PAHO launches new resources to strengthen diabetes diagnosis, treatment, and control in primary health care – PAHO/WHO

Washington, DC, November 13, 2025 (PAHO) – On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) today launched the online course Care for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in primary health carea free, self-paced learning tool designed to strengthen the skills and knowledge of primary health care teams. Additionally, PAHO presented medications and health technologies used for the diagnosis and management of diabetes that are available through the PAHO Strategic Fund, along with other educational resources to improve self-care. The upcoming publication of a new WHO guideline on the management of gestational diabetes was also announced.

Diabetes continues to pose a growing public health challenge. In the Americas, 112 million adults (13% of the adult population) live with diabetes and only 58% of people aged 30 years or older receive treatment. Diabetes is also the sixth leading cause of death in the Region and, if left uncontrolled, thousands more will have to live with complications that affect vision, kidneys and mobility. These figures highlight the urgent need to expand access to primary health care services.

“Strengthening primary health care capacity is essential to improve the quality of care and move towards more effective and equitable health systems,” said Dr. Carmen Antini, PAHO Advisor on Diabetes Prevention and Control. “This new course will support health personnel in the early diagnosis, adequate treatment and control of type 2 diabetes, a condition closely linked to obesity, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity,” he added.

The training program, available through the PAHO Virtual Public Health Campus, includes an introductory module and seven thematic units that cover: criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes, comprehensive evaluation, establishment of therapeutic goals, team care, pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, and identification and management of acute and chronic complications.

Aimed at primary healthcare staff, including doctors, nurses, nutritionists, physical therapists, social workers and psychologists, the course can also serve as a supplementary learning resource for students in health-related fields.

The course is part of a set of tools developed by PAHO to support countries in addressing diabetes, such as the HEARTS-D technical package and other instruments that help optimize clinical follow-up and promote self-care. The training program is also aligned with the Better Care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) Initiative, which seeks to strengthen countries’ capacity to integrate NCD management into primary health care.

This initiative contributes to the regional implementation of the WHO Global Diabetes Compact, which aims to reduce the risk of diabetes and ensure that all people living with the disease have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable and quality health services.

Poorly controlled diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes and lower limb amputation. It also doubles the risk of tuberculosis and increases the likelihood of serious complications during treatment. Although diabetes can be effectively controlled through regular testing and treatment, just over half of people with type 2 diabetes receive the care they need, primarily due to limitations in health systems.

PAHO supports the countries of the Region through its Revolving Funds, a joint procurement mechanism that facilitates access to essential medicines, vaccines and public health supplies at affordable prices, including diabetes treatments such as metformin, gliclazide and insulin, with savings of more than 90%. The Funds also facilitate the acquisition of blood glucose monitoring devices, which strengthen self-care and disease control, particularly in communities with limited access to health services.

World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on November 14. This year’s theme is “Diabetes at all stages of life” and reinforces the global commitment to reduce the risk of diabetes and ensure that all people diagnosed with the disease have access to comprehensive, equitable and quality care.