African region tops world in undiagnosed diabetes-WHO

Only 46% of people living with diabetes in Africa know their status, raising the risk of severe illness and death, potentially worsening the situation in the region which already has the world’s highest mortality rates due to the disease, a World Health Organisation (WHO) analysis has shown.

Globally, 55% of people with diabetes know they have diabetes.

In Africa, lack of testing facilities and equipment, inadequate number of trained health personnel, poor access to health facilities and lack of awareness about diabetes are some of the barriers to diabetes testing. Currently, 24 million adults are living with diabetes in Africa.

The figure is projected to rise by 129% to 55 million by 2045.

In Africa, premature deaths from diabetes (defined as deaths occurring before the age of 70) stands at 58%, higher than the global average of 48%, while the region’s age standardized death rate for diabetes is 48 per 100 000 population, more than double the global rate of 23 per 100 000.

On the continent, only one in two people living with type 1 diabetes, the most common form of paediatric diabetes, has access to insulin treatment.

“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.

“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 May 2022,countries including Botswana agreed to key global targets to improve diabetes diagnosis, access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, and quality treatment and care. The goals, contained in the WHO Global Diabetes Compact, aim to have 80% of people living with diabetes diagnosed; 80% of people diagnosed with the disease have good control of blood pressure and blood sugar. WHO is supporting African countries improve their diabetes response. In August 2022, African health ministers endorsed a WHO-led initiative called PEN Plus to increase access to diagnosis, treatment and care of severe chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and mental and neurotological disorders.

The strategy calls on countries to adopt measures ensuring that essential medicines, technologies and diagnostics are available and accessible at district hospitals.

Only 36% of countries in the African region have essential medicines for chronic diseases in public hospitals, according to a 2019 WHO survey.