World Diabetes Day: Prevention begins at the school table

Every year on World Diabetes Day, the global spotlight turns to one urgent question: how can the world prevent noncommunicable diseases, (NCDs), such as diabetes before they begin?

For the World Diabetes Foundation, a partner of the School Meals Coalition, change starts in schools - where nutrition and health education can give children a headstart on a life full of health and opportunity.

The Foundation believes that classrooms aren’t just places for learning math and reading – rather, they are also powerful launchpads for lifelong health. By weaving nutrition and health education into the school day, children gain the tools to make smart choices early.  The Foundation is deeply committed to improving health outcomes and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

The Foundation’s strategy, therefore, puts at its core the importance of primary prevention and healthy environments for children and adolescents, recognizing that early interventions can have lifelong benefits, integrating health education into schools, and emphasizing equity to ensure no child is left behind.