The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that 18.3% of COVID-19 deaths in Africa are people living with diabetes.
Jomog News Nigeria reports that the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa office said on Thursday that 18.3% of COVID-19 deaths in Africa are people living with diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition that global studies have found increases the risk of severe illness and death among patients infected with the coronavirus.
The WHO analysis of 14 African countries confirmed that the risk of complications or death from coronavirus among people with diabetes increases with age as people older than 60 years of age face greater risks of complications or death from COVID-19.
WHO stressed that the African Region has experienced a six-fold increase, from 4 million cases in 1980 to 25 million.
“Far too many people are in the dark as to whether they have diabetes. People with this chronic condition suffer a double blow if they are also infected with coronavirus,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa said.
The WHO said: ‘’the African region is also witnessing a rise in diabetes risk factors such as obesity. Increasingly sedentary lifestyle and consuming foods rich in sugar, fats and salt is heightening obesity, ranging from 2.5% of adults in Burundi to 26.9 % in Seychelles.’’
We must not lose sight of other health challenges as we combat COVID-19. World Diabetes Day is a key moment to call attention to this chronic illness, which is increasingly threatening the lives of Africans,” Moeti said.
Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. With early diagnosis and treatment, many of the harmful effects can be delayed or even avoided, said the WHO.
There are more than 1.9 million confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa with more than 1.6 million recoveries and 45,000 deaths, according to WHO.
The findings were released days before World Diabetes Day, marked annually on Nov. 14.
