Everyday, human beings are bombarded with broadcasts of unhealthy foods on television, radio, newspapers, magazine and on internet. The advertisements create new demands in people which ultimately causes unhealthy consumption behaviour.

Diabetes is one disease that can be influenced by the consumption of unhealthy foods. There are approximately 250 million or roughly 6% of the world’s adult population affected by diabetes. The use of media tools on health care promotions and campaigning is growing but much more needs to be done to ensure that more positive messages reach a greater number of people in the world. The media can be used as a tool to spread disease prevention messages.

"Either we spend all our time mopping the floor, or we get up and turn off the tap," said Professor Jean Claude Mbanya, the new president of International Diabetes Federation (IDF) during the 20th World Diabetes Congress held in Canada.

The most effective way to turn off the flowing diabetes tap from flooding all over is to give education to people as the slogan of World Diabetes Day this year focusing on 'Understand Diabetes and Take Control', says. There is a need to influence people to be concerned about what they eat so that they can prevent the onset of diabetes.

It has to be a big poke to get all attention. The fastest way is turning the mass media spotlight on the disease. However, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as in many parts of the world, the media often fail to give adequate attention to the problem of diabetes.