A third of Kenyans unaware of their diabetes status: WHO study
By Mwangi Mumero, November 16, 2022
Two in three persons living with diabetes in Kenya and other African nations do not know their status, raising the risk of severe illness and death, a new analysis by the World Health Organisation (WHO) shows.
According to the global health body, diabetes prevalence in Kenya is at 3.3 percent and is expected to rise to 4.5 percent by 2025.
Two-thirds of the patients are undiagnosed-presenting a major challenge to the health authorities.
Globally, 55 percent of people with diabetes know they have the disease.
As the world marks the World Diabetes Day, Africa has the highest mortality rates due to the diseases compared to other regions in the world.
Lack of testing facilities and equipment, inadequate number of trained health personnel, poor access to health facilities and lack of awareness about the disease are some barriers to diabetes testing.
Currently, 24 million adults are living with diabetes in Africa. The figure is projected to rise by 129 percent to 55 million by 2045.
“One of the greatest challenges to diabetes care is lack of diagnosis. Without testing, diabetes becomes a silent killer,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.
According to Moeti, while countries face several barriers to tackling diabetes, the rising prevalence of the disease is a wakeup call to reinforce health care, improve diagnosis, access to life-saving diabetes medicines and prioritize diabetes as a major health challenge.
In African nations, premature deaths from diabetes stand at 58 percent higher than the global average of 48 percent.
For the first time ever, countries agreed in May 2022 to key global targets to improve diabetes diagnosis, access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, and quality treatment and care.
According to WHO, countries should strive to ensure all those diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have access to affordable insulin and blood glucose self-monitoring and that 60 percent of people with diabetes aged 40 years and above have access to cholesterol-lowering drugs.