DIABETES ALARMINGLY RISING IN KENYA!

As you may have already figured out by now, I’m not a big fun of urbanization, the major reason being the numerous health issues it has brought about in Kenya and Africa; one of the most serious and expensive being Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).

Recent research has indicated that NCDs are alarmingly on the rise in Kenya, the highest prevalence being diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancer. For now, we’ll discuss diabetes. This is one disease I personally HATE to the core, for among other reasons, taking my dad’s life mercilessly and miserably. Unlike most people’s belief, misconception and wrong advice by some health professionals, Diabetes is a very preventable and manageable disease. The major reason why diabetes is killing a lot of Kenyans is lack of information, lack of health education and mishandling by some professionals who don’t really understand the disease.  

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. We’ll discuss more about insulin on another article. 

The most common types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes; previously known as insulin-dependent, juvenile or childhood-onset diabetes and type 2 diabetes; formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes. Another type of diabetes common in women is Gestational diabetes; which is hyperglycemia (raised blood sugar) with onset or first recognition during pregnancy.

Other common conditions closely related to diabetes are impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glycaemia (IFG). These are intermediate conditions in the transition between ‘normal’ health and diabetes. People with IGT or IFG are at high risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes, however the progression can be avoided through medical attention and appropriate health education.  

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by deficiency in insulin production in the body and requires daily administration of insulin. The exact cause of type 1diabetes has so far not been proven, but there have been speculations of genetics and environmental factors playing a role.

Type 2 diabetes results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. 90% of people with diabetes around the world have type 2 of diabetes. The major cause of type 2 diabetes is excess body weight and physical inactivity.

One of the most unfortunate norms among many Kenyans is not going for medical check-ups. Most of us only visit the hospital when seriously ill and when over-the-counter drugs we’re used to buying are no longer working. For most Non-Communicable Diseases, by the time you’re experiencing any symptoms, the disease has already progressed. People, it really is high time we all stopped self-medicating. 

If you or somebody you know has been complaining of excessive thirst (polydipsia), excessive excretion of urine (polyuria), constant hunger, sudden unexplained weight loss, vision changes and fatigue; it’s high time you advise them to visit a healthcare provider for checkup. Symptoms of diabetes more often go unattended to because we assume they’re consequences of normal day-to-day stress.

As I’ve said before, I don’t fancy long articles, for that reason, I’ll stop there for now. Let’s discuss more about diabetes on the next article. Make an appointment for you and your entire family, to visit a healthcare provider and have your blood sugar checked and if possible, a general health examination. Remember diabetes and other Non-Communicable Diseases are now affecting very young children, so take all prevention measures possible.

Choose excellent health today. My health, my responsibility!