Uganda: Rising Diabetes Cases Worry Health Experts.
The increasing number of diabetes infections in Uganda is worrying...
The increasing number of diabetes infections in Uganda is worrying health experts.
According to the World Health Organisation, about 98,000 Ugandans were diabetic in 2000.
However, the number has risen to 1.5 million of the 30 million Ugandans, said Prof. Andrew Otim, the chairman of the Uganda Diabetes Association.
"Diabetes is a disease brought by poor feeding habits. When a person gets a job and earns some money, he or she starts eating 'well' to compensate for the 'lost' time," he noted.
Otim was speaking during a clinical diabetes conference at Mukono zonal agricultural research and development institute on Monday.
Diabetes is a vascular disease caused when small blood vessels leak, affecting the eyes, kidneys and nerves.
It blocks or bursts the large blood vessels, affecting the normal functioning of the brain, heart and legs.
Dr. Silver Bahendeka, the international diabetes federation Africa chief, said 18 million people suffer from diabetes in Africa, adding that every one is a potential diabetic. She called for the creation of more organisations to senstise people on the disease. Joel Ogwanghttp://www.newvision.co.ug