By Dr Aung Tun
A day for action, not simply awarenes
Every 14 November, World Diabetes Day reminds us that di-abetes is not merely a laboratory result. It influences how people work, learn, care for their fami-lies and plan their futures. The official theme for 2026-2027, “Ear-ly action on diabetes”, calls for earlier diagnosis, reduced risk, timely treatment and compas-sionate support. For Myanmar, this message is especially prac-tical: an early conversation at a community clinic may protect years of healthy life. The chal-lenge is to transform awareness into action before complications appear.
The invisible gap in diagnosis
The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 589 mil-lion adults aged 20-79 were living with diabetes worldwide in 2024, and about 252 million did not know they had it. The number affected could reach 853 million by 2050. These are estimates, not counts of patients registered at clinics. Many people with type 2 diabe-tes feel well for years while high glucose gradually damages blood vessels and nerves. Waiting for severe thirst, frequent urination, or blurred vision is therefore not a reliable screening strategy. Early detection offers an opportunity to intervene while people are still able to protect their health and livelihoods.
Diabetes in Myanmar: what the numbers show
Myanmar’s own data show why early action matters. The 2024 national STEPS survey of the Ministry of Health, which exam-ined 8,252 adults aged 18-69, found diabetes (a raised blood glucose value or current diabetes medica-tion) in 7.9 per cent of adults: 9.6 per cent of women and 6.5 per cent of men. A further 12.3 per cent had impaired fasting glycaemia, a warning stage at which healthier habits can lower later risk. Among adults with diabetes, 56.5 per cent had been diagnosed previously, so more than four in ten did not know they had it, and only 50.4 per cent were receiving treatment. The In-ternational Diabetes Federation’s modelled estimate for 2024, 6.7 per cent of adults aged 20-79 or about 2.4 million people, points in the same direction, although surveys and models use different age ranges and methods. These are survey estimates, not counts of registered patients, but they show that screening and continu-ous care remain unfinished work.
Who should act early?
Adults with a family history of diabetes, excess abdominal weight, high blood pressure, previous gestational diabetes or limited physical activity should discuss screening with a health-care professional. Age and oth-er clinical factors also matter. People with symptoms need as-sessment promptly, even if they appear young or slim. Type 1 di-abetes can occur at any age and may progress rapidly. Vomiting, abdominal pain, deep breathing, marked drowsiness or dehydra-tion alongside possible diabetes symptoms require urgent med-ical attention. Screening meth-ods may include fasting plasma glucose or HbA1c, with repeat confirmation when appropriate. Test selection and interpretation should consider pregnancy, anae-mia and other conditions that can affect results.
Beyond one blood sugar number
Effective diabetes care is much more than obtaining a satisfactory glucose reading. HbA1c reflects average glycae-mia over approximately three months, but individual targets depend on age, frailty, medicines and the risk of hypoglycaemia. Some patients benefit from home glucose monitoring or continuous glucose monitoring, while others may not need frequent testing. Blood pressure, cholesterol, kid-ney function, eyesight and foot health deserve regular attention. A person may feel healthy yet have silent kidney damage or early retinal disease. Detecting these problems promptly allows treatment before they become disabling. Patients should ask their clinician for a written fol-low-up plan rather than relying on occasional testing alone.
Protecting the heart, kid-neys, eyes and feet
People with diabetes face an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, vision loss and foot complications. Prevention requires coordinat-ed care: appropriate glucose management, blood pressure control, lipid management, to-bacco avoidance and indicated medicines. Some glucose-low-ering treatments also offer cardiovascular or kidney ben-efits in selected patients; the choice belongs to a qualified clinician. Kidney checks may include urine albumin and es-timated glomerular filtration rate. Retinal examinations can detect changes before sight is affected. Daily foot inspection, well-fitting footwear and prompt attention to wounds help prevent infections. No patient should stop prescribed medication or replace it with unproven reme-dies because a single test looks normal.
Myanmar meals: practical changes, not deprivation
Healthy eating should re-spect local foods and family budg-ets. Rice, mohinga, noodles and traditional snacks need not auto-matically disappear from every meal; portion size, frequency and balance are important. A smaller serving of rice accompanied by vegetables and fish, beans, eggs or other protein can be more sus-tainable than an extreme diet. Water or unsweetened drinks are preferable to sugary beverages.
Sweetened tea, coffee, packaged drinks and frequent cakes can quietly add substantial sugar. People using insulin or medicines that may cause low blood glucose should seek advice before skip-ping meals or sharply reducing carbohydrates. The aim is steady, affordable improvement rather than guilt or hunger.
Movement built into daily life
Physical activity need not begin in a gym. Walking, cycling, household tasks and active play all contribute. For many adults, a practical goal is at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, adapted to health status and ability. Breaking up prolonged sitting can help. Someone inactive should start gradually, especially if living with heart disease or significant complications. A brief walk after meals may be easier to maintain than an ambitious programme that ends after a week. Fami-ly members can make healthy habits easier by joining walks, choosing balanced meals and supporting regular medical ap-pointments.
From diagnosis to continuous care
Diagnosis is only the first step. Medicines must be available, af-fordable and taken correctly; pa-tients need clear explanations of their purpose and possible side effects. Interruptions in treatment can be dangerous, particularly for people with type 1 diabetes who require insulin. Primary health-care teams can provide counsel-ling, monitor progress, identify complications, and refer patients when necessary. Simple systems – appointment reminders, personal health records and dependable supplies – can prevent people from disappearing from follow-up. Ed-ucation should also explain the warning signs of hypoglycaemia, such as sweating, trembling and confusion, particularly for those taking insulin or certain tablets.
Fair access for communities across Myanmar
The burden of diabetes is not experienced equally. Distance from clinics, transport costs, limited laboratory services and medicine expenses can delay care. Rural residents, older people and households with unstable incomes may face additional obsta-cles. Community-based screening linked to reliable referral is more useful than isolated testing events. Trained primary-care staff, acces-sible essential medicines and con-sistent patient education can help narrow the gap.
Schools, workplaces, civil society groups and local health volunteers can promote healthier food choices, physical activity and respectful attitudes. Health campaigns should avoid promising that one screening day alone will solve a lifelong care chal-lenge.
Five public-health pri-orities for 2026
First, communicate the signs of diabetes and encourage risk-based testing before symptoms develop. Second, connect every positive screening result to confirmation, treatment and follow-up. Third, integrate diabetes care with blood pressure, kidney, eye and cardiovas-cular risk assessment. Fourth, protect access to essential medicines, insulin and monitoring supplies. Fifth, listen to people living with diabe-tes and challenge stigma. Blame and frightening language can discour-age testing; empathy and practical guidance encourage participation. The World Health Or-ganization’s 2030 global diabetes coverage targets provide a useful direction, including diagnosing at least 80 per cent of people living with diabetes and improving control and ac-cess to treatment.
A call to families and decision-makers
On World Diabetes Day 2026, the most mean-ingful celebration is a de-cision that continues after 14 November. A family can encourage a relative at risk to obtain appropri-ate screening. A person already diagnosed can review their medicines and arrange overdue eye, kidney or foot checks. Healthcare workers can
make each visit an oppor-tunity for education and shared decisions. Leaders can strengthen primary care and remove barri-ers to essential treatment. Early action is not simply finding diabetes sooner: it means ensuring that diag-nosis leads to continuous, respectful and effective care. That is how Myan-mar can move beyond blood sugar numbers to-ward healthier, longer and more productive lives.
References
- World Health Organ-ization. World Diabe-tes Day 2026: Early action on diabetes. https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-di-abetes-day/2026
- International Diabetes Federa-tion. IDF Diabetes A t -las, 11th edition. 2025. https://diabete-satlas.org/
- International Di-abetes Federation. World Diabetes Day 2026-27: Early ac-tion on diabetes. 2026. https://idf.org/news-and-resources/news/wdd-2026-27/
- World Health Or-ganization. Diabe-tes: Fact sheet. 2024. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabe-tes
- Ministry of Health, Myanmar. Myanmar STEPS Survey 2024: Fact Sheet (adults aged 18–69; n = 8,252).
- International Di-abetes Federation. Diabetes in Myan-mar (2024): country profile. https://idf.org/our-network/regions-and-mem-bers/western-pacific/member/myanmar
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