Monday 14 November is World Diabetes Day . The fact that diabetesappears on the World Calendar of International Days is a clearindication that it has become a condition threatening to reachepidemic proportions. This year's theme is: Put Feet First: Preventamputations.
Today nearly 200 million people are afflicted with diabetes. A mere 20 years ago an estimated 30 million people had diabetes and now it isexpected that some 400 million people worldwide will have diabetesby the year 2025. The projected increase for diabetes in Africa aloneby the year 2025 is 170%.
Diabetes is a lifelong disease and there are two main types , Minister Uys said. Type 1 is less common and people with this form ofdiabetes must inject insulin into their bodies to stay alive. Type 2 ismuch more common and affect 9 out of 10 diabetics. It is sometimescontrolled by diet and healthy lifestyle alone.
One in 20 deaths is attributable to diabetes. This goes up to one inevery ten for people between the ages of 35 and 64. Worldwide 3,2million people die of diabetes, which translates into 8 700 per day orsix deaths every minute. It is also a debilitating disease. Every 30seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes somewhere in the world.
Minister Uys stressed the fact that preventative care need not involve costly treatment or medication. Education in good foot care as well as regular inspection is a good example of a low cost method ofprevention. Optimal health care greatly reduces the risk of ending upa diabetic and this includes blood pressure check-ups and bloodglucose control.
Minister Uys, says 8 out of every 100 people in SA have diabetes, but there are probably many people who do not even know they aresufferers. Statistics indicate that at least 50% of al people who havediabetes, are not aware of it. "At our clinics a mere prick of a finger or a urine sample can supply all the necessary information. Let yourdoctor check up on your glucose levels and blood pressure annuallyand remember that all people over 45 who are overweight and have ahistory of diabetes in the family, are part of a high risk group," saysUys.
Provincial Health Services spends a large part of its budget onfighting diabetes. This year more than medicine worth more than R15million will be provided to diabetics.
Information brochures and workshops are held regularly to discussthe dangers of diabetes and to work on prevention strategies. At mostof the 200 clinics throughout the province Tuesdays and Thursdaysare set aside for diabetic treatment. Diabetics are supplied withyellow and red stickers to identify them and enabling them to getpreferential treatment on their allocated days avoiding unnecessaryqueues.
Diabetics attend lectures on eating habits and lifestyles. The HealthDepartment is also training support groups for diabetics. Volunteersare also encouraged to attend. The aim is get volunteers to help outat least 50% of all clinics. These volunteers will help with theintroduction to special lifestyles and eating habits. Informationsessions are also held on Tuesdays and Thursdays explaining thecorrect application and use of medicines, exercise programmes,special recipes, etc." Our chronic dispensing section already makesup special medicine packets for diabetics aimed at lasting them forthree months" Uys said.
Minister Uys also announced that the 19th World Diabetics Conference would be held in Cape Town next year.
Issued by:
The Directorate Communications
Office of the Superintendent of Health, Western Cape
Department of Health
Director: Communication
021 483 3235Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
+27 483 2627
