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Undiagnosed diabetes cases widespread in many societies – Kpodo

By
Joseph Agrace Wiyorbie/Olivia Ayeh, GNA

Takoradi, Nov. 13,
GNA – Mr Ken Kpodo, the Executive Director for Rural Aid Alliance Foundation, a
non-governmental organisation based in Takoradi, has said undiagnosed cases of
diabetes is widespread in the society.

He attributed the
situation to limited resources and low prioritization of diabetes screening,
resulting in delayed diagnosis and escalating health threats on diabetes.

Mr Kpodo made this
known in a press release issued to mark this year’s world diabetes day
celebration, which is being held under theme: “The Family and Diabetes”.

He said it is
important to raise awareness on the impact diabetes has on the family and also
promote the role the family has in the management of care, prevention and
education on the condition.

The CEO said it was
equally important to promote diabetes advocacy efforts as well as promote
coordinated and concerted actions to confront diabetes as a serious global
threat.

Mr Kpodo described
diabetes as a chronic non-communicable condition that occurrs when the body
either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it
does produce, resulting in high levels of blood sugar in the body.

He said the
prevalence rate of diabetes was 3.6 per cent which is higher than that of
HIV/AIDS, adding that in 2017, a total of 518,400 cases of diabetes was
recorded.

He said currently
diabetes cases are around 515,200 and that an estimated number of 257,600
people are undiagnosed thereby posing an increased risk of complication for
people living with the condition and have no knowledge of their condition.

Mr Kpodo said 425
million people are living with diabetes worldwide who are in the age group of
between 20-79 years with 79 per cent of them living in low and middle income
countries.

The CEO said more
than one million children and adolescents have type one diabetes and that one
out of seven births were affected by high blood glucose in pregnancy.

He said about 327
million people with diabetes were in the working class and that diabetes caused
four million deaths in 2017 adding that diabetes was responsible for at least
727 billion dollars in health expenditure in 2017.

The Executive Director
said three hospitals in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly recorded
over 1,500 diabetes cases in 2017 with records of unspecified number of
amputated legs, while many more were living with the condition undiagnosed.

He called on
government to take relevant measures to improve upon the health outcomes of
people with diabetes, prevent the development of type two diabetes and its
associated complications and help stop the discrimination against people with
diabetes.

Mr Kpodo urged
government to honour its commitment to the universal health coverage by 2030
and step up action to achieve the WHO target of a zero per cent increase in
diabetes prevalence by 2025.

GNA

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