On November 14, the Allianz Arena will be lit up in blue - not because of a football match but because of world diabetes day. As part of the International Diabetes Federation's (IDF) campaign, hundreds of structures and monuments will be colored blue, in order to raise awareness of diabetes. The color symbolizes the unification of all countries under the sun in the fight against diabetes. Since the world cup in 2006, the Allianz Arena has stood for the harmonious coexistence of a wide spectrum of nations. And that's why it is taking part in this year's movement for which the motto is: "Diabetes prevention and education".
The number of sufferers worldwide is increasing
The campaign's objective is to improve the medical care given to those with diabetes and to raise awareness of the illness, which has an impact on the demographic structure of countries globally: According to the IDF over 370 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes. IDF estimates that there are over five million diabetes patients in Germany. It is predicted that by 2030 half a billion people worldwide will be affected by the illness. Most people suffering from diabetes live in China (114 million), India (63 million) and the US (24 million). Overall, four out of five sufferers live in low and middle income countries.
Despite major advances in diabetes research, the illness often remains undiagnosed for years because it is subtle in its early stages. In addition to genetic predisposition the risk of being affected by the disease is mainly increased by an unbalanced diet and a lack of exercise. When common health risks are life-style related, preventive measures have a significant impact.