World Diabetes Day 2026
Early action on diabetes
Jamal Haijjar, 75, shops at a supermarket in Amman, Jordan. Diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes 20 years ago, she manages her condition through medication, dietary changes, and activities such as gardening.
14 November is World Diabetes Day
Did you know that more than 40% of people living with diabetes across the globe are undiagnosed?
Without a diagnosis, people living with diabetes may not be able to access the care, treatment and support they need to manage their diabetes and live healthy lives.
Knowing the symptoms of diabetes can help people recognize when to seek support. Common symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst, frequent urination, tiredness and blurred vision.
Type 1 diabetes often develops rapidly, while type 2 diabetes typically develops gradually and may cause few or no noticeable symptoms.
The 2026 World Diabetes Day theme, “Early action on diabetes,” highlights the importance of earlier diagnosis, access to comprehensive care and reducing diabetes stigma.
Closing the gap in diagnosis is a global priority. One of the five global diabetes coverage targets supported by WHO Member States sets a target for 80% of people with diabetes to be diagnosed by 2030.
- Learn the symptoms of diabetes and encourage family and friends to do the same.
- Don't ignore possible symptoms of diabetes. Seek medical advice if you notice symptoms such as increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, tiredness or blurred vision.
- Every conversation matters. Challenge stigma, choose empathy and ask questions with curiosity.
- Your experience matters. Share your diagnosis journey and experiences to help raise awareness, challenge stigma and encourage earlier diagnosis.
- Support others by sharing trusted information and encouraging people to seek care.
- Join the conversation on social media: #ActEarlyOnDiabetes #WorldDiabetesDay
- Recognize the symptoms of diabetes to support timely testing, diagnosis and referral.
- Help reduce diabetes stigma by communicating with empathy, avoiding assumptions and involving people living with diabetes in decisions about their care.
- Talk with people about diabetes prevention and management, and support appropriate care for all types of diabetes.
- Integrate diabetes prevention, early detection and quality, person-centred care into primary health care.
- Expand access to affordable insulin and essential medicines as a core component of universal health coverage, ensuring supply chains are funded, functional and able to reach the people who need them most.
- Work with partners to accelerate implementation of the WHO Global Diabetes Compact. Progress towards the 2030 global diabetes coverage targets requires immediate, coordinated action.
- Raise awareness of diabetes in communities by sharing accurate, evidence-informed information about diabetes, such as WHO’s “diabetes symptoms” resources, and addressing diabetes misinformation and stigma.
- Elevate the voices of people living with diabetes through meaningful engagement in advocacy, programmes and policy discussions.
- Connect communities with trusted, evidence-informed diabetes information, services and support.
In 2022, WHO Member States endorsed 5 global diabetes coverage targets to be achieved by 2030:
- 80% of people with diabetes are diagnosed;
- 80% of people with diagnosed diabetes have good control of glycaemia;
- 80% of people with diagnosed diabetes have good control of blood pressure;
- 60% of people with diabetes of 40 years or older receive statins; and
- 100% of people with type 1 diabetes have access to affordable insulin and blood glucose self-monitoring.
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