By Edea Vuyaya Teopista/Inyakuni Kennedy 

Moyo

Moyo district health department on 14^th November 2023, joined the global in celebrating world celebrates diabetes a metabolic disease that arises from insulin problems under the theme empowering the global health. According to the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) Global Report on Diabetes, the prevalence of diabetes and risk factors has been increasing steadily with the numbers now at 2.7% and 3.0% for males and females, respectively.

About 18.6% of adults are overweight and 3.9% are obese. Diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate throughout the world and about 80% of diabetic cases live in low and middle-income countries.

Speaking in a meeting held at Moyo general hospital, Dr Chandi Fred Opeli, the medical supretendant Moyo general hospital has appealed to the patients in Moyo district to follow medical instructions in order to remain healthy.

Dr Chandi, noted that diabetes has two types with type one and type two. He said type two is the most dangerous saying it is a condition that happens because of a problem in the way the body regulates and uses sugar as a fuel. This long-term condition results in too much sugar circulating in the blood.
According to report from ministry health, Diabetes costs the Ugandan Government and households UGX 2.2 trillion annually.

The International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) regards Uganda as one of the 48 countries with a growing diabetes-related health issue. With a prevalence of 4.1% for all types of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The brief highlights that in 2022, diagnosed Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) management and treatment cost the government and households a total of UGX2.2 trillion, the burden falling more on households. Oral drugs and OPD consultations were the key cost drivers for treating T2DM without complications.

Fred Ijjo,  a senior laboratory officer in Eria health center iii noted that a number people who reported to the health facilities with the signs and symptoms of disease should first be tested for the to ascertain the positivity of the sickness before enrolling them on to medication.  “Diabetic patients are normally trained on how to manage the sickness in terms of the foods they need to eat including  treatment of the disease where some have learned how to inject themselves without”, he said.


Some diaetic patient in a meeting at Moyo hospital

Diabetes prevalence among ages 20 to 79 in Uganda was reported at 4.6 % in 2021, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources.

Uganda has recently experienced a significant rise in the burden of diabetes, and it is estimated that more than 400,000 people are living with diabetes.  A major concern in the management of diabetes is the occurrence of diabetic complications related to poor glycemic control.

Mr. Ubiku joseph a diabetic patient and the chairperson of the  diabetic patients in Moyo district  calls upon those living with the disease to always lookout to their health status by following instructions given to them by the health practitioners so as to stay strong amidst multiple challenges facing them.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, and non-traumatic lower limb amputation in Uganda. According to the International Diabetes Foundation, in 2021, an estimated 716,000 adults in Uganda had diabetes. About 89% of Ugandans with diabetes are neither on medication nor aware of their status.

But Bundruu Natalina sikia a 79 years old diabetic patient who was diagnosed with diabetes in the year 2000, attributed her good health conditions to picking instructions from health workers.

A Global research reveals that 72% of people living with diabetes surveyed only received their diagnosis because they had at least one of the related complications.

COVER PHOTO: A banner to mark the day of Celebration in Moyo District By Edea Vuyaya Teopista/Inyakuni Kennedy