WHO aims to stimulate and support the adoption of effective measures for the surveillance, prevention and control of diabetes and its complications, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
To this end, WHO has taken several strategic actions to combat diabetes globally and in the African Region:
- In 2021, the World Health Assembly (WHA) 2021 endorsed the Global Diabetes Compact, a comprehensive initiative aimed at improving diabetes prevention, diagnosis, and treatment while ensuring equitable access to essential care and medicines.
- In 2024, during the 74th Regional Committee for Africa (RC74), Member States endorsed the Regional Framework for implementation of the Global diabetes compact, providing a blueprint for strengthening diabetes care and integrating it into primary health systems across the African Region.
- develops and disseminates scientific guidelines for the prevention, early detection, and management of diabetes.
- establishes norms and standards for diabetes diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care, ensuring evidence-based approaches are implemented at the national level.
- raises global awareness of the diabetes epidemic, supporting advocacy efforts through key initiatives such as World Diabetes Day (November 14) to drive policy action and community engagement.
- conducts surveillance and monitors diabetes trends and its risk factors, providing data-driven insights to inform national and global health policies.
- supports countries in implementing cost-effective and scalable interventions for diabetes prevention and care through key initiatives such as the WHO PEN, the HEARTS-D , and PEN-Plus initiative for diabetes management.
The “WHO Global report on diabetes” provides an overview of the diabetes burden, the interventions available to prevent and manage diabetes, and recommendations for governments, individuals, the civil society and the private sector.
The WHO “Global strategy on diet, physical activity and health” complements WHO's diabetes work by focusing on population-wide approaches to promote healthy diet and regular physical activity, thereby reducing the growing global problem of overweight people and obesity.