Massive spread of diabetes in Africa

Diabetes is also a widespread disease in Africa
On the African continent food shortages and hunger still prevail in many regions. But the "prosperity disease" Diabetes is spreading in Africa increasingly. Those affected often have no access to diagnosis and treatment, the University Hospital Heidelberg warns in a recent release.

According to the Heidelberg University Hospital, data from twelve sub-Saharan countries has shown that "almost all diabetic patients are not adequately treated". In particular, people with little education and young victims would often know nothing about their disease, the experts report. Care structures and prevention strategies are not sufficiently available. The results of the current data analysis were published in the journal "The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology".

In Africa too, diabetes has become a widespread disease. (Image: biker3 / fotolia.com)

Data from 38,000 people evaluated
The international research team headed by Professor Dr. Till Bärnighausen from the Institute for Public Health at the University Hospital of Heidelberg analyzed the blood tests and health system data of around 38,000 people from twelve countries south of the Sahara in the context of the current study. They were able to detect an alarming spread of diabetes. "Diabetes is also a widespread disease in Africa, and around five percent of adults in the countries studied are affected, with strong fluctuations," the scientists report. About two-thirds of those affected were unaware of their illness.

Only a few sufferers receive treatment
"In particular, people with little education and young patients usually know nothing about their diabetes," the researchers explain. It became clear that diagnostics, therapy and prevention are hardly offered. For example, "only one-third of diabetic patients - and only a quarter of those at risk for overweight or obese - have ever received blood glucose monitoring." Adequate counseling is often the exception, despite the diagnosis. "Fewer than half of diabetes patients have ever been counseled on lifestyle issues - and only a quarter were ever treated," the researchers report.

Change in health care systems
The "prosperity disease" diabetes poses huge challenges for healthcare systems in Africa too. Although the focus in recent years has been more on the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, "Africa's health care systems must now be further equipped to successfully prevent and treat lifestyle disorders such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension" Professor Bärnighausen.

High potential in prevention, diagnostics and treatment
Based on the current study results, it also becomes clear what potential exists in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in Africa. "If it were possible to reach more patients with effective preventive measures and treatments, it would most likely involve much less cost than the economic losses of the long-term consequences of diabetes," Dr. Jennifer Manne-Goehler, who was also involved in the study. However, according to the researchers, more and better data is needed to develop appropriate approaches to Africa's healthcare systems. Also, similar analyzes for hypertension and elevated cholesterol levels will be performed. (Fp)