A University of Michigan and Brigham and Women’s Hospital study has calculated that ninety per cent of people with diabetes living in low- and middle-income countries do not receive the kind of care that could make their lives healthier, longer and more productive.
The US study, published in the journal Lancet Healthy Longevity, showed that nearly half a billion people on the planet have diabetes, but many don’t even know they have the condition.
Just one in 10 people with diabetes in low- and middle-income countries receive ample care — low-cost medicines to reduce blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels; and counselling on diet, exercise and weight, which can help lower the health risks. The risks include future heart attacks, strokes, nerve damage, blindness, amputations and other disabling or fatal conditions.
The researchers analysed data from surveys, examinations and tests of more than 680,000 people between the ages of 25 and 64 worldwide conducted in recent years. More than 37,000 of them had diabetes; more than half of them hadn’t been formally diagnosed yet, but had a key marker of elevated blood sugar.
Advocacy Action: There will be many people with as yet undiagnosed diabetes in your country. Have you worked with your diabetes patient group or health department on an awareness campaign? Early diagnosis saves lives, reduces complications and economic costs.