World Diabetes Day

Minister Pierre Uys said many complications of diabetes can be prevented or delayed through lifestyle measures such as a healthy diet, physical activity , the avoidance of overweight , not smoking and limiting your alcohol intake.

Monday 14 November is World Diabetes Day . The fact that diabetes appears on the World Calendar of International Days is a clear indication that it has become a condition threatening to reach epidemic proportions. This year's theme is: Put Feet First: Prevent amputations.

Today nearly 200 million people are afflicted with diabetes. A mere 20 years ago an estimated 30 million people had diabetes and now it is expected that some 400 million people worldwide will have diabetes by the year 2025. The projected increase for diabetes in Africa alone by 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 of diabetes must inject insulin into their bodies to stay alive. Type 2 is much more common and affect 9 out of 10 diabetics. It is sometimes controlled by diet and healthy lifestyle alone.

One in 20 deaths is attributable to diabetes. This goes up to one in every ten for people between the ages of 35 and 64. Worldwide 3,2 million people die of diabetes, which translates into 8 700 per day or six deaths every minute. It is also a debilitating disease. Every 30 seconds 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 of prevention. Optimal health care greatly reduces the risk of ending up a diabetic and this includes blood pressure check-ups and blood glucose 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 are sufferers. Statistics indicate that at least 50% of al people who have diabetes, 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 your doctor check up on your glucose levels and blood pressure annually and remember that all people over 45 who are overweight and have a history of diabetes in the family, are part of a high risk group," says Uys.

Provincial Health Services spends a large part of its budget on fighting diabetes. This year more than medicine worth more than R15 million will be provided to diabetics.

Information brochures and workshops are held regularly to discuss the dangers of diabetes and to work on prevention strategies. At most of the 200 clinics throughout the province Tuesdays and Thursdays are set aside for diabetic treatment. Diabetics are supplied with yellow and red stickers to identify them and enabling them to get preferential treatment on their allocated days avoiding unnecessary queues.

Diabetics attend lectures on eating habits and lifestyles. The Health Department is also training support groups for diabetics. Volunteers are also encouraged to attend. The aim is get volunteers to help out at least 50% of all clinics. These volunteers will help with the introduction to special lifestyles and eating habits. Information sessions are also held on Tuesdays and Thursdays explaining the correct application and use of medicines, exercise programmes, special recipes, etc." Our chronic dispensing section already makes up special medicine packets for diabetics aimed at lasting them for three 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

Faiza Steyn
Director: Communication
021 483 3235

Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
+27 483 2627