the who focused world health day 2016, on diabetes – a largely preventable and treatable non-communicable disease that is rapidly increasing in numbers in many countries, most dramatically in low- and middle-income countries. simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes, including maintaining normal body weight, engaging in regular physical activity, and eating a healthy diet. diabetes can be controlled and managed to prevent complications through diagnosis, self-management education, and affordable treatment. the who estimates about 422 million people in the world have diabetes, with the disease the direct cause of some 1.5 million deaths. the goals of whd 2016 are (1) scale up prevention, (2) strengthen care, and (3) enhance surveillance.