World Diabetes Day is an opportune time to evaluate the support available to the estimated 200 million people across the world coping with a galloping disease. Taking cognizance of the burgeoning malady, the theme for 2006 - 'Diabetes Care for Everyone, especially the disadvantaged and the vulnerable’ amply reflects the cardinal purpose of the campaign.

The global initiative in diabetes management seeks to draw attention towards the communities and groups in both developed and developing countries, for whom access to quality healthcare still remains a distant dream. The campaign will also solicit assistance from the international community for more funds to combat non –communicable diseases. Importantly, the campaign will seek to raise awareness among people suffering diabetes or at risk of diabetes, with education, and prevention measures. The need of the hour certainly hovers around delving into the socio-cultural leanings of diabetes and evolve strategies that will be the Holy Grail of diabetes prevention and care.

Diabetes is known to crawl in like a silent intruder, so it is better to be forewarned about its predilection. The key risk factors for diabetes include a strong family history of the disease that increases the chances of suffering the disease. Additionally, reduced physical activity, over weight, poor diet, ageing, or high blood pressure, and high blood levels of triglycerides, are positive risk factors. Women with gestational diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy are prone to suffering diabetes later in life. Diabetes seems to have a fond preference for certain ethnic groups - African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans are highly susceptible to its onslaught.

Type 1 diabetes is labeled an auto-immune disease, where in the victim’s own immune system wipes out the insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas. Also called as juvenile-onset diabetes, it afflicts nearly 10-15% of people suffering the disease.

Type 2 diabetes is rather infamous and a common form of diabetes, affecting 85-90% of all people with the disease. Also called as late-onset diabetes, it is typified by insulin resistance and comparative insulin insufficiency. But lifestyle influences can make or mar a potential diabetic. Excess weight, inactivity, high blood pressure and poor diet are major risk factors for its development. This type of diabetes is tricky as symptoms may not really manifest for many years and by the time it surfaces, damage has already begun. People with Type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to suffer cardiovascular disease.

Gestational diabetes mellitus or GDM, also known as carbohydrate intolerance, is detected during pregnancy. Risk factors for GDM are clearly, family history of diabetes, increasing maternal age, overweight or being part of an ethnic group predisposed to the risk. After birth of the baby, the sugar levels return to normal, but the mother and the baby are prone to the risk later on in life. Type 2 diabetes can be really tricky as it may not throw up any symptoms. What is worse, the symptoms may seem a trifle insignificant, and can actually escape attention. In the United States alone, more than 5 million Americans actually suffer Type 2 diabetes but do not know it. However some symptoms could be, increased thirst, increased hunger, and frequent urination, especially at night or weight loss. In some cases, people may experience blurred vision or wounds which don’t heal.