Types of Diabetes:

  • Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to a complete lack of insulin production.
  • Type 2 Diabetes: The most common form of diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels effectively.
  • Gestational Diabetes: A form of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and typically resolves after childbirth, but increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Some common signs of diabetes include:

  • Thirst and urination: Excessive thirst and frequent urination
  • Hunger: Feeling very hungry, even when eating
  • Fatigue: Extreme fatigue or weakness
  • Vision: Blurred or distorted vision
  • Weight loss: Unintended weight loss, even when eating more
  • Skin: Slow-healing cuts or bruises, discoloration, or velvety darker areas on the skin
  • Other: Tingling, pain, or numbness in the hands or feet, dry mouth, frequent skin or vaginal yeast infections, or irritability

Risk Factors:

  • Family history of diabetes
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Increasing age
  • Certain ethnic backgrounds
  • Poor diet

Global Prevalence:

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2021, approximately 537 million adults (20-79 years) were 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.

Prevalence in Africa:

In Africa, the prevalence of diabetes is rising rapidly, with an estimated 24 million adults (20-79 years) living with the condition in 2021; this represents 1 in 22 adults in the region, including 13 million undiagnosed cases and 1 in 8 live births affected by hyperglycaemia in pregnancy.

Prevalence in Rwanda:

The prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 20-79 in Rwanda was estimated to be 3.9% in 2019, according to the IDF.

Diagnosis:

  • Fasting blood glucose tests
  • Oral glucose tolerance tests
  • Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) tests

Treatment:

  • Lifestyle modifications (healthy diet and regular physical activity)
  • Medication (insulin injections, oral medications, or other therapies)

Complications (if unmanaged):

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Nerve damage (neuropathy)
  • Kidney disease (nephropathy)
  • Eye damage (retinopathy)
  • Foot problems
  • Increased risk of infections

Proper management and control of blood sugar levels are essential to prevent or delay these complications and improve overall health outcomes.