Above-Average Increase of Type 2 Diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa as a Result of Changing Nutritional Habits

Type 2 diabetes is rapidly spreading in sub-Saharan Africa (1). In addition to urbanization and increasing life expectancy, the changing nutritional and exercise habits are the main reasons. Compared to 1980, type 2 diabetes is currently diagnosed more than twice as often. US-American and British scientists also estimate that half of all type 2 diabetes cases are not yet recorded and only about one in every 11 patients receives a therapy. Four‑fifths of patients in sub-Saharan Africa who die in consequences of type 2 diabetes are younger than 60 years. In 2015, these were more than 321,000 people.

By now around USD 19.5 billion, approximately 2.1 % of its GDP, are used by the countries of sub-Saharan Africa for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and its sequelae but they are still not sufficiently prepared to cope the consequences of the growing incidence of type 2 diabetes. The measures proposed by an international expert committee to stop the progress of type 2 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa include, in addition to the training of patients, the targeted treatment of high blood pressure, the domestic blood glucose surveys, especially education programs for prevention, early detection and diagnosis treatment of diabetes on site.

Read and see more:

R Atun et al. Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: from clinical care to health policy. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology Commission. Published: 05 July 2017. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(17)30181-X