The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has introduced a series of new resources aimed at improving the diagnosis, treatment, and management of diabetes within primary health care settings. Marking World Diabetes Day, PAHO launched a free, self-paced online course titled Caring for People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Health Care, which is designed to strengthen the skills and knowledge of primary health care professionals. The organization also highlighted the availability of essential medicines and diagnostic technologies for diabetes through the PAHO Strategic Fund, along with additional educational materials to support patient self-care. PAHO further announced the upcoming release of a new WHO guideline on managing gestational diabetes.
Diabetes remains a significant and growing public health concern. In the Americas, 112 million adults—13% of the adult population—are living with the disease, and only 58% of those aged 30 and above receive treatment. Diabetes is now the sixth leading cause of death in the region. Without proper control, millions more risk developing serious complications affecting their kidneys, vision, and mobility. These challenges underscore the urgent need to strengthen access to primary health care services.
According to Dr. Carmen Antini, PAHO Advisor on Diabetes Prevention and Control, building capacity within primary health care is essential for delivering quality care and promoting more equitable health systems. She noted that the new course will help health professionals improve early diagnosis, treatment, and long-term control of type 2 diabetes—a condition strongly linked to poor diet, obesity, and sedentary lifestyles.
Hosted on the PAHO Virtual Campus for Public Health, the training program offers an introductory module followed by seven thematic units. These cover key areas such as diagnostic criteria, comprehensive patient assessment, therapeutic goal-setting, team-based care, pharmacological and lifestyle-based treatment, and the identification and management of both acute and chronic complications. The course is intended for a wide range of primary health care providers, including doctors, nurses, nutritionists, physiotherapists, social workers, and psychologists, and may also support students in health-related fields.
The course is part of a broader suite of tools developed by PAHO to help countries improve diabetes care, including the HEARTS-D technical package and other instruments to support clinical monitoring and self-management. The initiative aligns with the Better Care for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) Initiative, which aims to strengthen national capacity to integrate NCD management into primary health care systems.
These efforts also contribute to the WHO Global Diabetes Compact, a global initiative to reduce diabetes risks and ensure equitable access to high-quality, affordable care for all people living with the disease. Diabetes, when poorly controlled, is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and amputations, and increases vulnerability to severe tuberculosis complications. Although effective treatments exist, just over half of people with type 2 diabetes currently receive adequate care, largely due to gaps in health system capacity.
PAHO continues to support countries in expanding access to essential health products through its Revolving Funds, a joint procurement mechanism that provides affordable access to medicines, vaccines, and public health supplies. Through this mechanism, countries can secure diabetes medications—such as metformin, gliclazide, and insulin—at significant cost savings, along with glucose monitoring tools that enhance self-care, particularly in underserved communities.
World Diabetes Day, observed annually on November 14, carries the theme “Diabetes Across Life Stages” this year, reinforcing global efforts to reduce diabetes risk and ensure comprehensive, equitable care for everyone affected by the condition.
