An estimated 6.3 per cent of Ghanaians aged between 20 and 70 are suffering from diabetes. An additional 12 per cent of the same age group, in the ?pre-diabetes stage?, are also fast developing full-fledged diabetes.

The president of the Ghana Diabetes Association, Dr Kwamena Beecham, disclosed this at the launch of the 2005 diabetes awareness month in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region last Monday.

He blamed the rising cases of diabetes in the country to the changing tastes of most Ghanaians and advised the public to be careful of what they eat, and exercise regularly if they wanted to stay free of the disease and stay off the high cost of treating and managing the disease.

Again, Dr Beecham called on the Government, civil society and the media to fully co-operate in the awareness creation of the disease in the country.