Diabetes on the Rise as Calls for Screening Intensify

According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2013 figures:

• The number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing in every country globally.
• 80% of people in the world with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries.
• The highest number of people with diabetes is aged between 40 - 59 years.
• 175 million people with diabetes are undiagnosed.
• Diabetes caused 5.1 million deaths in 2013.
• Every 6 seconds a person dies from diabetes.
• More than 79,000 children developed type 1 diabetes in 2013 globally.
• People affected by diabetes from 2003 were 194 million with numbers expected to rise to 592 million globally by 2035.

June 26, 2014…The burden of diabetes continues to increase with an estimated 4.2% (over 1.8 M) of the Kenyan population living with the condition.

2.2% of the 1.8M is based in Kenya’s rural areas while 12.2% live in urban areas. A further 14.7% of the population has impaired glucose tolerance and the prevalence of diabetes is expected to rise to 6.7% if no preventive measures are put in place.

It is on this backdrop that the 10th edition of Safaricom Diabetes walk will target to reach about 7.5 million people in Kenya this year through an education awareness campaign to enlighten the public on symptoms, diagnosis and management of the condition.

The walk, to be held on 5th July and 13th September in Nairobi and Mombasa respectively, aims to double the amount raised last year to Kshs. 16 Million, funds that will go towards stocking the Insulin Bank to ensure children under the age of 18 from underprivileged backgrounds have access to this life saving drug.

The cost of managing diabetes has been one of the biggest challenges facing people living with the condition estimated at about Kshs. 78,500 per year, which includes insulin, needles and syringes, strips, annual tests for eyes, kidneys and feet.

“Diabetes is an expensive condition to manage. However, more can be achieved and the devastating effects of diabetes complications reduced if awareness programmes are put in place to address primary and secondary prevention,” said Eva Muchemi - Executive Director, DMI Centre.

She added that, “without insulin, our children are getting complications and dying young. We need to get to a place where all those below 25years will be able to get insulin at no cost since it is lifesaving just like the ARVs or TB drugs.”

The diabetes information Centre currently supports around 350 children who receive insulin, with a minimum of 40 patients per month. The walk aims to not only provide medicine for the children, but also give their families social and psychological support.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said, “there is need to reduce the stigma in people living with diabetes. We want to encourage more people to get screened because diabetes is preventable and manageable.”

Over the last year, DMI screened about 4,543 people for diabetes. The government also slashed the cost of insulin from Kshs 1,200 to Kshs 200 to help address the high cost of managing the condition.

In 2005, chronic diseases, mainly diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other non-communicable diseases caused 60% of total global mortality (35 million deaths).The prevalence of diabetes in the African region is estimated to have risen from 0.9% to 16.5%.

Type 2 diabetes contributes to more than 85% of total burden of diabetes in developing countries. Type 2 diabetes is a serious global public health problem which has evolved in association with rapid cultural and social changes such as urbanization, unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity and unhealthy lifestyles.

According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2013 figures:

• The number of people with type 2 diabetes is increasing in every country globally.
• 80% of people in the world with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries.
• The highest number of people with diabetes is aged between 40 - 59 years.
• 175 million people with diabetes are undiagnosed.
• Diabetes caused 5.1 million deaths in 2013.
• Every 6 seconds a person dies from diabetes.
• More than 79,000 children developed type 1 diabetes in 2013 globally.
• People affected by diabetes from 2003 were 194 million with numbers expected to rise to 592 million globally by 2035.

June 26, 2014…The burden of diabetes continues to increase with an estimated 4.2% (over 1.8 M) of the Kenyan population living with the condition.

2.2% of the 1.8M is based in Kenya’s rural areas while 12.2% live in urban areas. A further 14.7% of the population has impaired glucose tolerance and the prevalence of diabetes is expected to rise to 6.7% if no preventive measures are put in place.

It is on this backdrop that the 10th edition of Safaricom Diabetes walk will target to reach about 7.5 million people in Kenya this year through an education awareness campaign to enlighten the public on symptoms, diagnosis and management of the condition.

The walk, to be held on 5th July and 13th September in Nairobi and Mombasa respectively, aims to double the amount raised last year to Kshs. 16 Million, funds that will go towards stocking the Insulin Bank to ensure children under the age of 18 from underprivileged backgrounds have access to this life saving drug.

The cost of managing diabetes has been one of the biggest challenges facing people living with the condition estimated at about Kshs. 78,500 per year, which includes insulin, needles and syringes, strips, annual tests for eyes, kidneys and feet.

“Diabetes is an expensive condition to manage. However, more can be achieved and the devastating effects of diabetes complications reduced if awareness programmes are put in place to address primary and secondary prevention,” said Eva Muchemi - Executive Director, DMI Centre.

She added that, “without insulin, our children are getting complications and dying young. We need to get to a place where all those below 25years will be able to get insulin at no cost since it is lifesaving just like the ARVs or TB drugs.”

The diabetes information Centre currently supports around 350 children who receive insulin, with a minimum of 40 patients per month. The walk aims to not only provide medicine for the children, but also give their families social and psychological support.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore said, “there is need to reduce the stigma in people living with diabetes. We want to encourage more people to get screened because diabetes is preventable and manageable.”

Over the last year, DMI screened about 4,543 people for diabetes. The government also slashed the cost of insulin from Kshs 1,200 to Kshs 200 to help address the high cost of managing the condition.

In 2005, chronic diseases, mainly diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other non-communicable diseases caused 60% of total global mortality (35 million deaths).The prevalence of diabetes in the African region is estimated to have risen from 0.9% to 16.5%.

Type 2 diabetes contributes to more than 85% of total burden of diabetes in developing countries. Type 2 diabetes is a serious global public health problem which has evolved in association with rapid cultural and social changes such as urbanization, unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity and unhealthy lifestyles.