November 14, which is also the birthday of Canadian Sir Frederick G. Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin, is a birthday celebration on a global scale. It was created to raise awareness of the diabetes epidemic, which now affects 246 million people and their families around the world.

• Every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-  related causes.
• Every 10 seconds two people develop diabetes.
• Over 250 million people live with diabetes worldwide. In 2025, this figure will reach 380 million.
• Over 500,000 children under age 15 worldwide live with type 1 diabetes.
• More than 200 children a day develop type 1 diabetes.
• In developing countries, close to 75,000 children live with diabetes in desperate circumstances.
• Type 1 diabetes is increasing fastest in pre-school children, at a rate of 5% each year.
• Type 2 diabetes has been reported in children as young as eight.