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Diabetes prevalence and health risks in Africa

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2026-10-30 20:51 UTC → 2026-11-01 20:47 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Diabetes is identified as a significant global health concern, currently ranked as the seventh most deadly disease. While Type 1 diabetes is genetic, Type 2 diabetes is increasingly prevalent, particularly among men aged 30 to 65. Common symptoms include frequent urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, and numbness in the limbs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has specifically warned of a rising diabetes burden across Africa. Mohamed Janabi, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, reported that an estimated 24.6 million adults aged 20 to 79 in the WHO African Region were living with diabetes in 2024, a figure projected to reach 59.5 million by 2050. A critical issue in the region is that nearly three in four people living with the condition are unaware of their diagnosis, ~~increasing~~ which represents the highest proportion of undiagnosed cases globally. This lack of awareness increases the risk of severe ~~complications~~ complications, such as kidney failure, blindness, ~~and~~ cardiovascular ~~disease.~~ disease, and lower-limb amputations. In anticipation of World Diabetes Day 2026, themed “Early Action on Diabetes,” Dr. Janabi has called for increased awareness, early screening, and expanded access to affordable, quality care. He emphasized that recognizing symptoms like unexplained weight loss and blurred vision is vital for early intervention.

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