While diabetes is a preventable and manageable disease, it can have serious complications if left untreated, and it's estimated that about 6 million Americans don't know they are diabetic.

Beyond prevention of diabetes complications, type 2 diabetes, which accounts for the vast majority of the disease, is also largely preventable.

The mission of the WHO diabetes Programme is to prevent diabetes whenever possible and, where not possible, to minimize complications and maximize quality of life.