Fighting the diabetes tsunami

An astounding 78 percent of Africans with diabetes remain undiagnosed, and about one third of people with type two diabetes (adult onset) have already developed complications by the time they are diagnosed.

Which is why at their annual diabetes awareness day on Friday, November 13 Stanger hospital staff urged people to go for regular random blood glucose screenings to make sure they get diagnosed early.

Hospital spokesperson Hingla Jokoo, said currently there are 14.7 million diabetics in Africa.

“The diabetes tsunami is here and we in South Africa are in trouble,” said Jokoo.

“Complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, amputations and kidney failure, in most cases, could have been avoided by early diagnosis.”

The purpose of the awareness campaign was to promote healthy living by offering advice by doctors, nurses, dietitians, eye specialists, oral hygienists, pharmacists, and patients who have successfully managed their diabetes for a long time. There was also the opportunity to have your blood pressure and sugar levels tested and ask the experts questions.

Jokoo said the highest prevalence of diabetes in South Africa was among Indians (11-13 percent), followed by the coloured community (eight to ten percent), black people (five to eight percent) and white people at four percent.

Symptoms include fatigue, excessive thirst and urination, wounds that take too long to heal, skin infections, blurred vision and regular bouts of thrush.

Joko identified three types of diabetes: type one, where the body stops producing insulin; type two that develops over time and the body cannot use insulin properly; and gestational diabetes which occurs during pregnancy due to hormonal changes, genetics and lifestyle factors. She encouraged people to go for regular random blood glucose screenings to make sure they get diagnosed early.

“Diabetes can be controlled with a combination of medication, exercise and a healthy diet,” said Jokoo.