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According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 450,000 Ghanaians are living with diabetes.
The 2015 report indicated that 75 percent of the cases, remained undiagnosed, posing an increased danger of complications for people living with diabetes unaware.
It is also estimated in the report that the number was likely to reach 820,000 by the year 2035, due to the ageing and expanding population, with diabetes accounting for 8.6 percent of deaths from all causes in adults.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, it is not that simple to say that eating too much sugar causes diabetes.
This is because type 1 diabetes is caused by genetics and unknown factors trigger the onset of the disease while type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors.
Being overweight does increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and a diet high in calories from any source contributes to weight gain. Research has however shown that drinking sugary drinks is linked to type 2 diabetes.
Another grossly exaggerated claim about diabetes is that people who are overweight eventually get diabetes.
The fact is being overweight is just one of the risk factors for developing diabetes. There are other factors, such as family history, race or ethnicity, and even age.
By understanding all the risk factors involved, one may better understand his/her overall risk and the habits one can change to be healthier overall. One myth that ought to be dismissed immediately is that diabetes is contagious.
One can’t catch diabetes from someone else like a cold or the flu. But it’s important to know that type 2 diabetes can run in the family.
But how will you know you have Diabetes?
Medical Superintendent at La General Hospital Dr. Oduro Mensah outlined some signs and symptoms.
“For the majority of the people, the symptoms of diabetes starts with feeling tired easily…you thirst more than usual. You realize you have an increased need to drink and you feel you have increased appetite and yet losing weight,” said Dr. Mensah
He added that “And then you seem to urinate a lot, at times not frequently but it turns to be in huge volumes. When one have a sore, it takes quite a while [to heal]…people tend to develop itches around their genitals.”
According to him, when people notice these, it should draw attention to the fact that they could be developing diabetes.
Meanwhile the director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) collaboration center in Ghana, Prof Alex Dodoo says diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in Ghana hence the needs for an urgent plan to deal with it.
Also, President of the National Diabetes Association, Elizabeth Esi Denyoh says government must show more commitment to providing funds to support diabetes programs.
“We wish the National Health Insurance Authority will fully absorb diabetes care into their programmes,” Elizabeth Esi Denyoh told Joy News.
The host of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Kojo Yankson, led a screening and sensitization program under the Sugar Project in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, Thursday to mark the World Health Day.
