Lara Adejoro The World Health Organisation Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, on Thursday, said the number of people living with diabetes in the African Region is predicted to rise to 54 million by 2045, the highest projected increase globally if urgent interventions are not taken. Moeti said this in her message to commemorate the 2024 World Diabetes Day themed, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps.” Diabetes is a chronic lifelong disease that leads to uncontrolled blood sugar levels because the body can no longer produce or use the insulin it produces efficiently.
Moeti said the rising diabetes prevalence in Africa is complicated by multiple drivers including urbanization, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. “In the WHO African Region alone, more than 24 million adults are currently living with diabetes, half of whom remain undiagnosed. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to complications such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage, kidney failure, lower-limb amputation, and eye disease that can result in blindness.
“Without urgent interventions, predictions are that the number of people living with diabetes in the African Region will rise to 54 million by 2045, the highest projected increase globally. This poses a significant dual health and economic burden, including catastrophic spending by individuals to control their disease. “Compounding the challenge is that Africa has the lowest investment rate in diabetes care worldwide, at only one per ce.