Johannesburg - As the world marks World Diabetes Day, Gary Feldman, executive head of healthcare consulting at employee benefits firm NMG Benefits wants to remind South Africans why diabetes is one of the biggest health emergencies of all time.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, an estimated 4.2 million South African adults have diabetes, about half of whom remain undiagnosed, and this is expected to rise to 5.4 million by 2030.
South Africa has one of the highest prevalence rates of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is reported that it is not getting any better.
The federation reported 95% of diabetes is caused by being overweight or obese, which affects half of all South African adults. However, growing numbers of children are being diagnosed with diabetes, due to unhealthy diets and lifestyles.
Feldman reminded South Africans why it is one of the biggest health emergencies especially for women, the key factors that are driving the high increase in statistics, and why it is critical to have regular health checks and not ignore the signs.
Diabetes is the second leading cause of death in South Africa, behind tuberculosis, with almost 96 000 people dying in 2021 of diabetes-related causes.
Poorly managed, it leads to poor quality of life and early death, and is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputation.
“Diabetes is one of the biggest health emergencies of our time, and it’s being driven by a range of factors that include increasing urbanisation, declining dietary standards and physical activity. What’s more concerning is that many people are living with undiagnosed diabetes, which has more serious health consequences if left untreated,” said Feldman.
This can easily be remedied, said Feldman, with most medical schemes encouraging their members to have annual health checks, which are available to them free of charge.
Women with type 2 diabetes have a life expectancy of five years less than average – but 80% of diabetes sufferers don’t know they have pre-diabetes symptoms.
“Early detection followed by appropriate treatment can prevent more serious health conditions. Being aware of your health status is critical to avoid increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, eye damage and skin conditions to mention a few. In most instances, changes in lifestyle and diet habits can significantly reduce this risk,” said Feldman.
Feldman has urged medical scheme members to have frequent check-ups.
“As healthcare consultants, we urge medical scheme members to have their annual check-ups, find out more about preventative testing, and where necessary, register their condition onto the chronic programme to access appropriate care,” he said.
The Star