World Diabetes Day for kids and schools

World Diabetes Day is on 14 November, in the middle of Diabetes Awareness Month. Here is how to mark it with children aged 4 to 12: free games, a class plan, a short script to read out and simple ideas. No sign-up, nothing to install.

📅 When

Saturday 14 November 2026. Many schools mark it on Friday 13 November. The whole of November is Diabetes Awareness Month in many countries.

🔵 The blue circle

The global symbol for diabetes. The circle stands for life and health; blue is the colour of the sky that unites all countries, and of the United Nations flag.

🎯 The 2026 theme

“Early action on diabetes”: finding diabetes early and acting early. For families, it starts with knowing the warning signs below.

🎂 Why 14 November

It is the birthday of Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin with Charles Best. The day was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization, and has been an official United Nations day since 2006.

The campaign on worlddiabetesday.org ›

🩺 Early action: know the warning signs

Type 1 diabetes can start at any age, and in children its signs can come on quickly. Every grown-up can learn these four:

💧 Very thirsty
🚽 Peeing a lot, or wetting the bed again
⚖️ Losing weight
😴 Very tired

🚨 If you notice them, see a doctor the same day.

💡 Diabetes is not catching, and type 1 diabetes is not caused by eating sweets. It is nobody’s fault.

🏫 A class plan in 30 to 45 minutes

Works on an interactive whiteboard, Chromebooks, tablets and phones. No login, nothing to install. Pick the plan for your pupils’ age.

Ages 4 to 6

Read What is diabetes? together, out loud.
Play Memory Match as a class.
Pack the diabetes bag with Pack Your Kit.
Everyone draws a big blue circle and colours it in.

Ages 7 to 9

Open with Myth or Fact? on the board.
See what insulin does in Insulin Key.
Learn how to help a friend who feels low with Buddy Helper.
Finish with Sign Spotter: can you find the four warning signs?

Ages 9 to 12

Start with World Diabetes Day Quiz in teams.
Read a sensor graph in CGM Detective.
Spot the carbs with Carb Catcher.
Talk about it: how can we help a friend who feels shaky at playtime?

🔵 Go blue: simple ideas

Wear something blue on the day, or on the last school day before it.
Make a giant blue circle on the wall: each pupil adds one thing they learned.
Make a class poster: what insulin does, the signs of a low and the four warning signs.
Send this page to families, so children can play again at home.

📣 A 2-minute script for assembly or school radio

Short lines for pupils to read out, one each:

Good morning! On 14 November, the whole world marks World Diabetes Day.
Diabetes means there is too much sugar, called glucose, in the blood, because the body doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin doesn’t work well.
Did you know? Insulin works like a key: it opens our cells so glucose can get in and give us energy.
Did you know? You can’t catch diabetes, and type 1 diabetes is not caused by eating sweets.
Children with diabetes can play, run, learn and have fun like everyone else.
If someone is always very thirsty, pees a lot, loses weight and is very tired, tell a grown-up: they should see a doctor the same day.
The symbol of the day is a blue circle. Wear blue to show you care!