Diabetes: the silent killer
Half a billion people are expected to be living with diabetes by 2030.
Netcare Krugersdorp Private Hospital hosted a diabetic awareness campaign on 14 November, which is World Diabetes Day.
On this day staff from the hospital, patients and the public were granted the opportunity to get tested to find out whether they were at risk of being diabetic, a medical condition that is caused by a lack of insulin in the body.
Sister Magda de Hoog from De Hoog Diabetic Clinic says the event was held to create awareness as diabetes is a silent killer.
“According to the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes is one of the major health and development challenges of the 21st century.”
She says that one in two people currently have diabetes and they don’t even know that they have it.
“Currently 371 million people are living with diabetes and another 280 million are at high risk of developing the disease.”
Half a billion people are expected to be living with diabetes by 2030.
Magda says that they want to make people aware that certain lifestyle changes can prevent diabetes.
“Diabetes and its complications largely are preventable and there are proven, affordable interventions available.”
She says although diabetes does not discriminate and can develop at any time, a healthy lifestyle reduces one’s individual risk of developing the condition.
She thanks the numerous pharmaceutical companies, René de Koker, Lamprecht (Dietician), Goldings Orthopaedic Centre and the De Hoog Diabetic Clinic.
“We will be doing free testing during this month at our clinic inside the hospital,” concludes Magda.
• World Diabetes Day is celebrated on 14 November each year to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who co-discovered insulin and is recognised internationally. It is also an official United Nations Day. Banting alongside Charles Best discovered insulin in 1922.
