Diabetes: “It’s a family thing” – ISA campaign for World Diabetes Day returns in 2019
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) contributes to IDF’s activities on World Diabetes Day with a two-year online campaign themed ‘It’s a Family Thing’
The International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is supporting World Diabetes Day (WDD) for an eight year consecutively, not only because WDD is one of the most important health awareness days globally, but also because we strongly believe that, altogether, we can help make a difference. The majority of type 2 diabetes is preventable and complications can be avoided with good management and care, and therefore we are joining our voice with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in raising awareness about the need for early detection, prevention and care of diabetes, also with the help of the family. With family being the epicentre of WDD 2018 and 2019, the theme for IDF’s diabetes awareness month and WDD 2019 is “Diabetes – Protect Your Family”.
With a two-year online campaign themed “It’s a Family Thing”, the ISA celebrates WDD and World Diabetes Month 2019 which aim to raise awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and to promote the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of the condition. This year, we have developed an inspirational video for people living with diabetes presenting the story of Gisèle, a strong and active woman who has bravely faced and managed to keep her diabetes under control with the support of her family, friends and health professionals. In developing the ISA activities around WDD, the ISA has the valuable scientific support of the European Specialist Dietetic Network for Diabetes of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) since 2016. This year, the video is also endorsed by the Arabic Association for the Study of Diabetes and Metabolism (AASD), the Federación Española de Diabetes (FEDE – Spanish diabetes federation), the Sociedade Brasileira de Alimentação e Nutrição (SBAN – Brazilian Society for Food and Nutrition) and the Associação Nacional de Atenção ao Diabetes (ANAD – Brazilian diabetes association).
To read the ISA press release for World Diabetes Day 2019, please click here. For more detailed information on the ISA campaign, please continue reading below.
« It’s a Family Thing » campaign continues for a second year: An ISA online activity programme in support of WDD 2018 - 2019
Aiming to inspire, encourage and educate people with diabetes and their families that much can be done to manage glucose control and prevent diabetes-related complications, the ISA online programme for this year’s WDD, under the umbrella theme « It’s a Family Thing”, consists of an inspirational video for people living with diabetes and a video interview with the lead dietitian of EFAD’s ESDN Diabetes.
‘Life with diabetes can be tasty: Gisèle’s story’
In the ISA inspirational video for WDD 2019, the portrait of a patient with type 2 diabetes, Gisèle, unfolds. Gisèle takes us through her story of success with diabetes and registered dietitian Haris Dimosthenopoulos, MMedSci.SRC, Chief Dietitian-Biologist, General Hospital of Athens Laiko, Greece, talks about the role of the family in diabetes control.
Gisèle was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1991, following a pituitary adenoma that caused her morbid obesity. She decided to proceed with bariatric surgery and to live a new life: that of a person with controlled type 2 diabetes. With the help of a dietitian, she changed her dietary habits, including regarding sugar consumption, and thanks to the use of low/no calorie sweeteners, she has always been able to enjoy sweet taste and to keep her good mood.
Gisèle is very active. She loves travelling, walking for geocaching with her husband in the countryside and taking care of her granddaughter. She also scrapbooks with friends and she volunteers in a retirement home. Today, after having experienced many difficulties, Gisèle has overcome those problems. Thanks to her weight loss, new dietary habits and her very active life, Gisèle managed to reverse her diabetes which is now under control.
Watch the ISA inspirational video in support of World Diabetes Day 2019 and find out how Gisèle managed to control her diabetes and to keep enjoying an active and pleasant life.
Expert video interview
In the video interview with the dietitian Haris Dimosthenopoulos, MMedSci.SRD, Lead of EFAD’s ESDN Diabetes, the role of the dietitian in diabetes management is emphasised. Furthermore, the key dietary recommendations for glycaemic control including carbohydrate, sugars and low/no calorie sweeteners intake recommendations in diabetes are discussed.
Please watch the video interview with Haris Dimosthenopoulos, MMedSci, SRD.
Low/no calorie sweeteners offer people with diabetes broader food choices by providing the pleasure of sweet taste without affecting blood glucose control1. As low/no calorie sweeteners have no impact on insulin and blood sugar levels and do not provide calories, they can also have a role to play in weight management for people with type 2 diabetes2. For more information about the role of low/no calorie sweeteners in diabetes, please read the dedicated page of the ISA website here.
Please also read and download the new infographic about “Low calorie sweeteners in diabetes”, which is available by clicking here.
A reminder of the ISA campaign materials for WDD 2018
The videos developed for this year’s campaign complement the educational materials that have been developed last year in the context of WDD 2018 aiming to encourage family support and to raise awareness of the important role family members can play in the prevention, detection and management of diabetes.
- Watch again the ISA animated video in support of WDD 2018 and get reminded of why diabetes care should start from home!
- Download the ISA infographic for WDD 2018 “It’s a Family Thing” to find out how family members can support persons with diabetes in the family and why each member has a unique, key role to play.
About World Diabetes Day 2018 – 2019
The theme for diabetes awareness month and World Diabetes Day 2018 and 2019 is: Family and Diabetes. Materials and actions that IDF developed over the two years of the campaign aim to:
- Raise awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and support network of those affected.
- Promote the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of diabetes.
Left untreated or unmanaged, diabetes can lead to life-changing complications. These include blindness, amputation, kidney failure, heart attack and stroke. Diabetes was responsible for four million deaths in 2017. This November, IDF is urging people to test their diabetes knowledge and assess their risk of type 2 diabetes through an online quiz and assessment.
More information about diabetes awareness month and World Diabetes Day 2019 is available on the official WDD website by clicking here.
The ISA campaign for #WDD2019 goes social!
Stay tuned on ISA social media profiles to find out about the inspirational story of Gisèle, an active and strong woman who successfully controlled her diabetes as well as why with family support diabetes management, keeping your blood glucose under control and living a healthy life can be easier!
So don’t forget to use the dedicated hashtag #ISA4WDD and to follow @SweetenersAndU, our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and to subscribe to the ISA YouTube channel!
To read the ISA press release for World Diabetes Day 2019, please click here.
- Nichol AD, Holle MJ, An R. Glycemic impact of non-nutritive sweeteners: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Clin Nutr 2018; 72: 796-804
- Diabetes UK. The use of low or no calorie sweeteners. Position Statement (Updated December 2018). Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/professionals/position-statements-reports/food-nutrition-lifestyle/use-o…
