Cape Town – South Africans are urged to rally behind the awareness of diabetes this World Diabetes Day.
The National Department of Health released a statement, urging South Africans to know their diabetes status. The department has advised that early screening allows early detection and treatment, which can lead to healthy lives.
“World Diabetes Day is observed globally every year on November 14 to raise awareness of diabetes as a global public health challenge and what needs to be done, collectively and individually for better prevention, timely diagnosis and successful management of the condition in order to improve patient health outcomes and reduce the long-term psychological stress and costs associated with disease treatment,” the statement said.
The department announced this year’s World Diabetes Day theme is “Access to diabetes education”. The theme calls for strengthened public education around the condition to empower people with crucial health information such as the risk factors, signs and symptoms and treatment adherence in order to make well informed choices.
ProVeg South Africa, an international food awareness organisation, has also joined in to raise awareness on diabetes on this year’s World Diabetes Day. In a statement the organisation said over 4 million adults in South Africa are affected by the condition, while just under half of the people living with diabetes are undiagnosed, and one in three adults in the country are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The National Department of Health has called for a healthy lifestyle and regular screening as a means of prevention.
“Maintenance of healthy lifestyles contributes towards prevention, control of the condition and the avoidance of serious complications which include depression and anxiety. Regular health screening can lead to early diagnosis, holistic treatment and control,” the department said.
ProVeg South Africa issued quick facts about diabetes
Quick diabetes facts:
∎ World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the passage of United Nations Resolution 61/225.
∎ It is marked every year on November 14, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
∎ According to the World Diabetes Federation, one in 10 adults (or 537 million people) globally, are now living with diabetes. This number is expected to rise to 643 million by 2030, and 783 million by 2045.
∎ The majority of undiagnosed adults have type 2 diabetes. Three in four people with diabetes live in low and middle-income countries.