‘250,000 Ghanaians Living With Diabetes Do Not Know It’ – National Diabetes Association Raises Alarm

According to GhanaWeb on Saturday 14 November 2026, the National Diabetes Association of Ghana has raised serious concerns about the growing number of people living with diabetes without knowing their health condition. The association has revealed that approximately 250,000 Ghanaians are living with undiagnosed diabetes, a situation that could expose thousands of people to serious health complications.

The alarming revelation was made by the President of the National Diabetes Association, Elizabeth Denyoh, during the official launch of World Diabetes Day 2026 in Ghana.

Speaking at the event, she explained that nearly four out of every five Ghanaians living with diabetes are unaware of their condition. This means that many people could be going about their daily activities without knowing that their blood sugar levels are dangerously high.

According to figures from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Diabetes Atlas, approximately 317,400 adults in Ghana between the ages of 20 and 79 are currently living with diabetes. However, about 78.7 per cent of them have not been diagnosed, representing roughly 250,000 people.

The association warned that the situation is particularly worrying because undiagnosed diabetes can gradually damage important organs in the human body. People who fail to identify and manage the condition early may eventually develop serious complications, including kidney failure, blindness, heart attacks, strokes and other life-threatening health problems.

Mrs Denyoh explained that many people only discover they have diabetes after experiencing serious medical complications, even though a simple blood sugar test could have helped identify the condition much earlier.

She therefore encouraged Ghanaians to take regular health screening seriously, especially adults above 35 years, people with a family history of diabetes, individuals who are overweight and women who experienced diabetes during pregnancy.

She stressed that knowing one’s blood sugar level is an important step towards preventing complications and managing the disease effectively.

The association also disclosed that the number of Ghanaians living with diabetes could exceed 800,000 by 2050 if urgent measures are not introduced to address the situation.

To help prevent this possible increase, Mrs Denyoh called for stronger public education, improved access to screening services and affordable medication for people diagnosed with the condition.

She further encouraged Ghanaians to adopt healthier lifestyles by reducing their consumption of sugary drinks and highly processed foods, eating more vegetables and fruits, and engaging in regular physical activities.

The National Diabetes Association also called on the government to strengthen diabetes care at primary healthcare facilities and make essential medicines, including insulin, more accessible and affordable.

As part of activities marking World Diabetes Day, the association, together with the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and development partners, is expected to support free and subsidised diabetes screening exercises in communities across the country.

Mrs Denyoh urged religious organisations, traditional leaders, employers and other institutions to make health screening an important part of their activities.

She emphasised that diabetes should not be ignored or surrounded by misconceptions, adding that early diagnosis and proper treatment can help people live healthier lives.

The revelation has renewed concerns about the importance of regular medical check-ups in Ghana, particularly as thousands of people may be living with the condition without knowing it. 

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