Mt. Kenya, Kisii regions leading in new cases of diabetes

By Eric Akasa

Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and Kenya Diabetes Management and Information Centre (DMI Centre). Cases of diabetes are on the increase in central, coast and western regions, according to sources from the

Mt. Kenya region, Kisii and Mombasa are some of the regions that have recorded increased cases, largely blamed on sedentary lifestyle, low level of awareness, negative attitudes and unhealthy diet practices.

The revelation comes as the country prepares to mark the 2012 World Diabetes Day scheduled for November 17^th 2012.

It is estimated that the national prevalence rate of diabetes stands at 4.5 percent meaning close to 2 million Kenyans suffer from the condition.

The Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, however, says the prevalence rate of diabetes in the country could rise to 10 percent by the year 2030 if lifestyle modification is not urgently addressed.

The Head of Division of Non-communicable Diseases Dr. Waihenya says that, diabetes is threatening to reach epidemic levels if Kenyans continue embracing unhealthy lifestyles.

“Even diabetes can be hereditary; majority of cases in the country can be attributed to unhealthy lifestyles which many Kenyans have adopted. Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are two of the main causes of Diabetes,” he says.

Dr. Waihenya added that due to unhealthy lifestyles, over 20 percent of women and seven percent of men in the country are overweight or obese, while over 20 percent of the population either smokes or takes alcohol, factors that if not controlled could contribute to the increasing cases of diabetes.

“Simple lifestyle changes such as diet control and regular exercise go a long way to help control the diseases,” Dr. Waihenya said.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness, renal failure and lower limb amputation. It also triggers cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of deaths for people living with diabetes. The key risk factors for diabetes -- obesity, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets -- require interventions to change unhealthy lifestyles.

Government intervention

In 2010, the government launched a Strategy and National Clinical Guidelines for management of diabetes. The strategy is the first national policy on diabetes in the region and is a dream come true. It is also the first national policy in Kenya on non-communicable diseases.

Named as the national Diabetes strategy 2010 - 2015, this strategy is to help accelerate mainstreaming of diabetes policies and programmes with a view to make them an integral part of the national public health response to disease prevention and care at all levels of health care.

Under this strategy, health workers are being trained to manage the disease that has affected million Kenyans and continue to spread.

“We are re-training health care workers and providing them with appropriate tools for management of diabetes,” says Dr. Waihenya

The plan is contained in four documents: the National Diabetes Control Strategy, the National Clinical Guidelines for Management of Diabetes Mellitus, the National Diabetes Educators Training Manual and the National Diabetes Comprehensive Care Program.