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- More than 4 million people in SA are living with diabetes.
- Worryingly, 45% of people aren't even aware they have the condition.
- On World Diabetes Day, experts are calling on government to pay urgent attention to the 'public health crisis'.
Diabetes prevalence in South Africa has doubled in the last decade, with more than 4.2 million people now suffering from the condition: that's one in nine adults, and 45% of these people are undiagnosed, according to the latest figures from the International Diabetes Federation.
The condition is also the number one killer of women in South Africa and the second cause of death in both men and women.
READ MORE | Our research shows gaps in South Africa’s diabetes management programme
Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting how the body processes blood sugar or glucose. If your blood glucose is too high, it can seriously damage your body. Complications include heart attack or stroke, blindness, poor circulation in the feet that could lead to amputation if left untreated, kidney problems, gum disease and erectile dysfunction.
Says Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie, Chairperson of the South African Diabetes Alliance:
"For example, lower limb amputations due to diabetes cost the fiscus an estimated R68 billion annually," he adds.
As part of its World Diabetes Day programme, the Diabetes Alliance has sent an Open letter to the Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, calling on him to urgently implement a national diabetes education programme to:
- prioritise diabetes education in South Africa, and
- improve access to the best possible diabetes education for health professionals and South Africans.
Ngassa Piotie believes that the high prevalence of diabetes in SA is a "public health crisis" and that the country urgently needs a cohesive national diabetes education programme targeting people living with diabetes, their families and healthcare workers.
SA most obese nation: Obesity risk factor for type 2 diabetes
One pharmaceutical company, with a focus on preventative care, is also urging the public and government to do more to reverse this predictable yet preventable health crisis.
Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics, says South Africa is the epicentre of type 2 diabetes on the continent because of its high obesity rates. Says Jennings:
Type 2 diabetes is more common in older adults, but there has been a concerning rise in the number of children with obesity, which has led to more diabetes cases in younger people, too, says Jennings. She adds that an estimated 15 million South Africans will eventually develop diabetes. "It’s a time bomb, and the clock is ticking."
Focus should be on prevention and remission
Jennings says that prevention and remission should be at the heart of SA's long-term strategy for diabetes. The Department of Health currently spends in the region of 12% of its entire budget on treating diabetes, which runs into billions, she says.
READ MORE | In-depth: Does SA have a diabetes testing problem?
Other risk factors for type 2 diabetes include age (over 45), having a close family relative with the disease, a diet high in fat, sugar and salt, high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, heart disease, drinking too much alcohol, smoking and not exercising enough. She says:
Jennings says measuring blood glucose regularly is another important step in managing and preventing complications related to type 2 diabetes. "Even if you don't suspect you have diabetes, rather have it tested annually. This can be done at your GP or pharmacy clinic. At-home devices, called blood glucose metres, can also be used. A normal blood glucose range (while fasting) should be within the range of 3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L. Anything higher could be a sign of pre-diabetes or diabetes."
