A sub-Saharan African perspective of diabetes

Gill, Geoff, Mbanya, J. C., Ramaiya, K. and Tesfaye, S. (2009) 'A sub-Saharan African perspective of diabetes'. Diabetologia, Vol 52, Issue 1, pp. 8-16.

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Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is an important and increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Accurate epidemiological studies are often logistically and financially difficult, but processes of rural-urban migration and epidemiological transition are certainly increasing the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Type 1 disease is relatively rare, although this may be related to high mortality. This diabetic subgroup appears to present at a later age (by about a decade) than in Western countries. Variant forms of diabetes are also described in the continent; notably 'atypical, ketosis-prone' diabetes, and malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus. These types sometimes make the distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes difficult. Interestingly, this is also a current experience in the developed world. As more detailed and reliable complication studies emerge, it is increasingly apparent that African diabetes is associated with a high complication burden, which is both difficult to treat and prevent. More optimistically, a number of intervention studies and twinning projects are showing real benefits in varying locations. Future improvements depend on practical and sustainable support, coupled with local acceptance of diabetes as a major threat to the future health and quality of life of sub-Saharan Africans.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	africa atypical diabetes diabetes mellitus diabetic complications healthcare delivery malnutrition-related diabetes mellitus mortality type 1 diabetes type 2 diabetes islet-cell antibodies south-africa macrovascular disease clinical characteristics noncommunicable disease health-care c-peptide mellitus insulin ketoacidosis
Subjects:	WK Endocrine System > WK 810 Diabetes mellitus WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Clinical Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-008-1167-9
Depositing User:	Users 43 not found.
Date Deposited:	22 Jun 2010 14:04
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2018 12:59
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/276

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