Food environment
What foods and drinks are easiest to find around your school or neighbourhood?
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Diabetes is a global health challenge
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how the body regulates glucose — the main sugar circulating in the blood.
When diabetes is not adequately controlled, persistently high blood glucose can damage blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys, and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
But diabetes is not simply a story about individual behaviour. The opportunities people have to eat nutritious food, be physically active, obtain medicines and access health care are strongly influenced by their social, economic and physical environments.
That makes diabetes an excellent subject for learning global health, equity, systems thinking and evidence-based leadership.
830 million
people living with diabetes in 2022
WHO estimates that the number increased from about
200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022.
PERSONAL HINTS
Start by noticing your environment
These are questions for observation and curiosity — not judgments about whether someone is “healthy.”
Opportunities for movement
Are there safe and enjoyable places nearby where young people can be active?
Health information
Where do people around you obtain information about diabetes — and how can you tell whether it is reliable?
Access to care
If someone needs diabetes testing, medicines or ongoing care, how easy is it for them to obtain?
01 · EXPLORE
What exactly is diabetes?
Blood glucose
Glucose is an important source of energy for the body. Its level in the blood is regulated through several biological processes, including the action of insulin.
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps glucose move from the bloodstream into cells where it can be used for energy.
Type 1 diabetes
An autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system damages the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. People with type 1 diabetes require insulin.
Type 2 diabetes
The most common form of diabetes. It develops through a combination of insulin resistance and insufficient insulin production, influenced by biological, environmental and social factors.
Gestational diabetes
Diabetes that is diagnosed during pregnancy. It can affect the health of the pregnant person and baby and is associated with a higher future risk of type 2 diabetes.
Hyperglycaemia
A condition in which blood glucose is higher than the normal range. Persistent hyperglycaemia can damage blood vessels and other organs over time.
02 · LEARN
How does diabetes affect the body?
Think of glucose regulation as a system rather than a single organ.
1
Food & glucose
Carbohydrates in food can be broken down into glucose, which enters the bloodstream.
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2
Insulin & regulation
Insulin helps regulate glucose by enabling cells to take up and use glucose.
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3
High blood glucose
When glucose regulation is impaired, blood glucose can remain too high.
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4
Long-term effects
Persistent high blood glucose can damage blood vessels, nerves, kidneys and eyes and increase cardiovascular risk.
Important:
Diabetes is not one disease with one cause.
Different types have different biological mechanisms,
and a person's circumstances also influence prevention,
diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.
UNDERSTANDING DIFFERENT TYPES
Diabetes does not have one single story
TYPE 1
Autoimmune diabetes
The immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
- Usually requires insulin for survival.
- It is not caused simply by eating sugar.
- It can develop in children, adolescents and adults.
TYPE 2
The most common form
The body becomes less responsive to insulin and, over time, may not produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels.
- Risk is influenced by multiple factors.
- Family history and biology can matter.
- Social and physical environments also influence risk.
PREGNANCY
Gestational diabetes
Diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy can affect both pregnancy outcomes and future health.
- Requires appropriate health-care support.
- Is not a reason to blame the pregnant person.
- Can be connected to later risk of type 2 diabetes.
03 · THINK
Can you look beyond “lifestyle”?
Global-health thinking means asking what lies behind the visible problem.
01
A school tells students to “eat healthier.”
What questions should we ask about the price, availability and marketing of different foods around the school?
02
Two families have different incomes but receive the same health advice.
Does giving identical advice necessarily create equal opportunities to act on that advice?
03
A person has diabetes but cannot consistently obtain their medicines.
Should this be understood only as an individual problem, or does it also reveal something about the health system?
04
Why is diabetes increasing particularly rapidly in many low- and middle-income countries?
Consider urbanization, food systems, economic change, commercial influences, health services and inequality.
05
Is “prevention” the same as “personal responsibility”?
What responsibilities belong to individuals, families, schools, businesses and governments?
04 · CONNECT
SELF → FAMILY & PEERS → COMMUNITY → COUNTRY → WORLD
Diabetes becomes easier to understand when we follow its connections across levels.
1
SELF
Learn how the body regulates glucose and recognize that people living with diabetes deserve understanding, support and accurate information.
2
FAMILY & PEERS
Explore how families and friends can create supportive environments without stigma, blame or misinformation.
3
COMMUNITY
Ask whether schools, neighbourhoods, food environments and recreational spaces support health.
4
COUNTRY
Consider national policies affecting food systems, prevention, medicines, primary care and health equity.
5
WORLD
Compare diabetes patterns across countries and explore the role of WHO, IDF, governments and international partnerships.
05 · SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
Diabetes is shaped by the conditions of daily life
WHO describes social determinants as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, together with access to power, money and resources.
💰 Income & affordability
Household resources can influence access to nutritious food, safe housing, transportation, recreation, medicines and health services.
🥗 Food environments
What is affordable, available, convenient and heavily marketed can influence dietary patterns across communities.
🏙️ Built environment
Safe streets, parks, transportation and neighbourhood design can influence opportunities for physical activity.
🎓 Education
Education and health literacy can influence people's ability to understand health information and navigate health systems.
🏥 Health-system access
Diagnosis, medicines, insulin, monitoring, follow-up and treatment of complications depend on accessible and effective health systems.
📢 Commercial determinants
Marketing, product design, pricing, distribution and other commercial practices can shape the environments in which people make health-related decisions.
🌍 Geography & inequality
Where people live can influence exposure to risk, access to services and the resources available to prevent and manage diabetes.
🤝 Social support
Families, peers, schools and communities can influence health knowledge, emotional support and the ability to manage chronic conditions.
🌡️ Climate & changing environments
Climate change can affect food systems, livelihoods, physical activity opportunities and the broader determinants of health.
06 · SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Diabetes connects health with development
3
Good Health & Well-being
SDG 3 includes the prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of mental and physical well-being.
2
Zero Hunger
Food security, food quality and sustainable food systems are closely connected to nutrition and health.
4
Quality Education
Education and health literacy can influence people's opportunities to understand and use health information.
10
Reduced Inequalities
Diabetes prevention and care are strongly connected to social and economic inequalities within and between countries.
11
Sustainable Cities & Communities
Urban planning, transport, green spaces and healthy food environments can influence opportunities for health.
12
Responsible Consumption
Food production, marketing, packaging and consumption patterns are connected to both health and sustainability.
13
Climate Action
Climate change can affect food systems, livelihoods, environments and the social determinants of health.
17
Partnerships for the Goals
Diabetes requires collaboration among governments, communities, researchers, health professionals, civil society and international organizations.
07 · GLOBAL LEADERSHIP & EVIDENCE
Who is working on diabetes?
Global health is a network of evidence, policy, financing, regulation, implementation and community action.
WHO
World Health Organization
Develops global guidance, supports countries, monitors diabetes and leads international initiatives including the Global Diabetes Compact.
IDF
International Diabetes Federation
Represents diabetes organizations worldwide and produces the Diabetes Atlas, a major source of global diabetes estimates.
UN
United Nations
Places NCD prevention and health equity within the Sustainable Development Goals and wider global development agenda.
IHME
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
Produces global comparative estimates of diseases, risk factors, disability and mortality.
NATIONAL
National & local authorities
Ministries of health, municipalities, schools and public-health agencies influence prevention, regulation, primary care and access to treatment.
SCIENCE
Research & clinical communities
Researchers and professional organizations generate evidence about diabetes biology, prevention, treatment, health systems and implementation.
GLOBAL DATA SNAPSHOT
What does the evidence tell us?
Different sources measure different populations and use different methods. Good data literacy means asking what each number actually represents.
people living with diabetes in 2022, using WHO's global estimate.
adults aged 20–79 living with diabetes in 2024 according to the IDF Diabetes Atlas.
adults aged 20–79 projected to be living with diabetes in 2050.
of adults with diabetes are estimated to live in low- and middle-income countries.
🧠 Data-literacy challenge
Why are the WHO and IDF numbers different? Before deciding that one number is “wrong,” investigate the population covered, age range, year and methodology.
Living Evidence
GHE treats evidence as something that must be periodically reviewed rather than frozen in time.
Global evidence
WHO & IDF, 2024–2026
GHE last reviewed
August 2026
Next scheduled review
August 2027
08 · REFLECT
Pause and look again
Reflection asks us to consider both personal agency and the conditions that shape other people's opportunities.
What is one idea about diabetes that you understand differently now?
Who might face greater barriers to diabetes prevention, diagnosis or care? Why?
What could your school, community or government change to make healthier conditions more achievable?
09 · ACT
From knowledge to constructive action
Young people can contribute through learning, data, communication, collaboration and civic action.
01
Learn
Investigate one diabetes question using reliable sources such as WHO, IDF or national health authorities.
02
Investigate
Compare diabetes prevalence or treatment access between countries and ask why differences exist.
03
Map
Map the food, recreation and health-service environment around your school or community.
04
Communicate
Create an evidence-based infographic or data story that challenges diabetes myths and stigma.
05
Advocate
Identify one realistic improvement to your school's or community's health environment and discuss it constructively with decision-makers.
🌍
I can make healthy choices for myself, and I can help create healthier conditions for others.
GHE KNOWLEDGE CHECK
Test your thinking
These questions assess knowledge, interpretation, application, SDH, SDGs, health systems and global-health thinking.
You completed the Diabetes pathway!
You explored diabetes from biology to families, communities, health systems and global development.
Think Global · Act Local · Do It Now
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