Accra, Oct. 27, GNA-Diabetes have been identified as the cause of prolonged ill health in at least 2.2 million Ghanaians and threatens 50 per cent of all Ghanaian patients.

Globally, at least one person dies every 10 seconds out of the disease and four people's legs are amputated every 30 seconds as a result of diabetic complications.
Dr Kwamena Bechem, President of the Ghana Diabetes Association who made this known at a press briefing on the current Diabetic situation in Ghana said there was the need for public concern as well as government policies and measures to reverse the trend.
He said at an estimation of more than 360 million persons likely to get the disease by 2025, with 90 per cent said to come from low and middle -income countries, Ghana must no longer relent in efforts to give the disease similar attention as given to communicable diseases like Malaria, Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS.
According to him, Ghana unlike other countries have their productive force between ages 35 and 64 at greater risk, adding that in sub-Saharan Africa, Diabetes cost 30 per cent of countries budget. Dr Bechem attributed the high prevalence in developing countries to under nutrition, over nutrition (Overweight and obesity) and a shift from the consumption of traditional food to more processed, polished and animal sourced foods that were high in fats and sugar. To help reverse the trend, he said, the 2007 World Diabetes Day was been celebrated on the theme: "Diabetes Care For Everyone" to create awareness on the disease and ensure that diabetes care become optimal for all, especially children and adolescents.
He said there was also the need to have public health and clinical guidelines of a national diabetes programme to avoid stigmatisation against diabetic patients and reinforce diabetic care families for research and excellent care.
The GDA President also expressed disappointment that diabetic patients who were among victims hit by floods in the three northern regions have not receive any drugs since the disaster occurred, saying, " their health are at risk and government should provide them with their drugs apart from food to sustain their lives.
He also urged the general public to regularly test their sugar levels and to desist from eating at irregular intervals, drinking high sugar level drinks, excessive alcohol, overeating and fatty meat. Dr Bechem also appealed to government to subsidise diabetic drugs and urged the general public to support and join the Association to learn moreabout the disease. 27 Oct. 07