November 14 2007 marks the eighteenth annual World Diabetes Day. Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects people of all ages in all areas of the world. Inadequate care can lead to serious health complications such as blindness, kidney failure, neuropathy (degeneration of nerves and nervous system), amputation, heart attacks and death.

This date was designated World Diabetes Day as it was the birthday of Frederick Banting who, in collaboration with Charles Best, discovered insulin in October 1921.

IIF Press Release for World Diabetes Day 2007 (in pdf format)

Visit the International Diabetes Foundation’s (IDF) website: www.idf.org