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Thandeka Moyo, Health Reporter
ZIMBABWE recorded about 100 000 diabetes cases in 2017 attributed to unhealthy snacking and poor lifestyles which has resulted in the country being named one of heavily burdened countries in the region.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), around 15.5 million adults aged 20-79 are living with diabetes with over two-thirds (69.2 percent) of them unaware of their condition.
In a statement, Novartis Africa chief scientific officer and medical director Dr Nicola Lister said given the increase in new cases, Zimbabweans should consider adjusting their lifestyles.
“This is significant cause for concern since diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. In 2016 alone, an estimated 1.6 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes,” said Dr Lister.
“This increase is in line with trends developing around the world and more than 55,3 percent of adults living with diabetes live in urban areas.
“With a total adult population of 7 782 000, there were 99 400 cases of diabetes in Zimbabwe in 2017. This accounts for about 1.3 percent of the adult population”.
Zimbabwe is one of the 32 countries of the IDF African region with increasing cases of diabetes.
Dr Lister also said that most of the reported cases are of Type 2 diabetes, which can be treated and its consequences avoided or delayed through a healthy diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening.
According to Novartis, families can help address the modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes by reinforcing the need for a healthy lifestyle at family level.
“In the case of Type 1 diabetes, which most often develops in childhood, these symptoms can include excessive urination, extreme thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue. Similar symptoms occur in Type 2 diabetes, which most often develops in adulthood,” said Dr Lister.
She said symptoms of Type 2 diabetes are often less noticeable than those of Type 1 diabetes, so people may ignore them.
Experts say diabetes is caused by junk food which includes sweets, chocolates, refined products and failure to exercise.
Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube recently invoked the Customs and Exercise Act and imposed duty in foreign currency on an array of goods including junk food.
Goods listed for duty in forex include sugar confectionery, chocolates, cereals, sweet biscuits and selected cigarettes.
— @thamamoe .
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