Health experts urge action on South Africa’s diabetes crisis

As the search continues for innovative and technology-based solutions to resolve the healthcare challenges posed by diabetes, healthcare proffesionals have called on the government to heighten government interventions against the silent killer.

This comes as Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has endorsed the Diabetes Summit, which brought together more than 250 health professionals, researchers and policymakers seeking innovative solutions to the health challenges posed by diabetes.

Reports have revealed that one in nine South African adults lives with diabetes, with the country reported to have the highest prevalence of the disease in Africa.

Around 90% of cases are Type 2 diabetes, often linked to lifestyle factors, while Type 1 diabetes generally develops earlier in life.

Sweet Life – a community for South Africans living with diabetes- says the disease has become one of the fastest-growing health crises worldwide, affecting an estimated 537 million people.

“This is an important gathering because it brings together many role players, which in turn, adds a lot of value in making sure that we can avoid complications in treating diabetes. The value of this summit is to explore various ways in which we can have improved outcomes, because diabetes is rising not only in our country but throughout the world.

For Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, the gathering provides a vital platform to reflect, reimagine, and take responsibility.

“It is not just about knowledge-sharing, but about mobilising our collective capacity to improve the lives of over 4.2 million South Africans living with diabetes, of whom nearly 45% are still undiagnosed,” she said.

Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed that this week, she will be visiting Soweto as part of World Diabetes Day, where she and her team will be conducting an awareness campaign, among other things.

“In Gauteng, we are especially concerned. Our urban districts, particularly Johannesburg and Tshwane, have some of the highest numbers of insulin-dependent patients. In fact, between 23,720 and 25,000 patients in our province rely on insulin, and many present with advanced stages of disease. This should move us from words to action. Diabetes is not just a health issue. It is an economic issue,” she added.

CEO of the Healthy Living Alliance(HEALA), Nzama Mbalati, called on the government to use funds from the sugar tax levy to help fund awareness campaigns aimed at teaching ordinary South Africans about the dangers posed by diabetes.

“The biggest thing for us is how do we use opportunities like these, the Diabetes Summit, for bold commitment, bold planning and emergency response to diabetes. So, one of the things we are asking as HEALA is for the government to declare diabetes a public healthcare threat and a public healthcare emergency. We hope that the government makes this a reality, as we want interventions that are not business as usual,” he said.