Diabetes is a disease that can affect anyone, even people who don’t have a family history of it. Where are you on the diabetes scale?
The Global Picture
More than 500 million globally have diabetes. According to the International Diabetes Federation;
- Approximately 537 million adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes.
- The total number of people living with diabetes is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045.
- 3 in 4 adults with diabetes live in low- and middle-income countries.
- Almost 1 in 2 (240 million) adults living with diabetes are undiagnosed.
- Diabetes caused an estimated 6.7 million adult deaths in 2021.
- Diabetes caused at least 966 billion dollars in health expenditure – 9% of total spending on adults.
- More than 1.2 million children and adolescents (0-19 years) are living with type 1 diabetes.
- 1 in 6 live births (21 million) is affected by diabetes during pregnancy.
- 541 million adults are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes in Ghana
- In Ghana, there are about 2.4 million people living with diabetes and approximately 7.5% of adults have Type-2 Diabetes.
- The reported prevalence of diabetes at national level in Ghana ranged between 2.80%– 3.95% of the population.
- The prevalence of diabetes was generally higher in women in comparison to men.
- Urban areas were found to have a higher prevalence of diabetes than rural
- In Ghana, there are about 2.4 million people living with diabetes and areas.
- The mean annual financial cost of managing one diabetic case at the outpatient clinic was estimated at GHS 540.35 (US $194.09) in 2021. (PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Mar 12;4(3):e0001904. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001904)
As the diabetes awareness month of November progresses, Meatless Monday Ghana calls on partners, friends and their families to find out where they belong in the above statistics. Are you yourself, a brother, a sister, a friend etc. one of the 537 million adults living with diabetes? If yes, then #DontLetDietBeatUs. You can prevent or manage diabetes by keeping at the center of your eating habit the Meatless Monday practice. If,
however, you belong to the 240 million adults whose cases have not been diagnosed, then here is the help you require.
THE DIABETIC RISK TEST: Think you or a loved one may be at risk? Take or share the 60-second American Diabetes Association (ADA) type 2 diabetes risk assessment quiz and find out. (Click (ADA) in green above to follow the process and access the quiz).
MESSAGE OF THE WEEK: By incorporating healthier eating, physical activity, regular sleep, and mental health self-care practices into your weekly routine, you can better prevent or manage type 2 diabetes.
Reduce meat consumption and eat more plant-based foods on Mondays for a healthier life.
Save your life- Save the Environment!
