By Dr GITA MAKAN-
While COVID-19 dominated headlines in 2021, another more insidious plague continued unabated.
At that time, there were 24 million adults between the ages of 20 and 79 in Africa living with diabetes.
Worryingly, that figure continues to rise.
By 2030, an estimated 33 million people on the continent will be affected by this disease.
In many ways, diabetes can be considered to be the dark horse of non-infectious diseases.
It is not as widely discussed as HIV, cancer or malaria in the African context, however, in 2021, it was responsible for 416,000 African deaths.
Diabetes is not selective and the diagnosis has been attached to such famous names as Johnny Cash, Tom Hanks and Patti LaBelle.
The famous singer, LaBelle jokingly referred to herself as a “divabetic”.
Diabetes can lead to severe morbidity from chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and vision and hearing impairment.
However, a potentially deadly complication is cardiovascular disease.
As we commemorate World Diabetes Day (on 14 November), it is fitting to remind those at risk that heart disease is prevalent among people with Type 2 diabetes.
In 2019 alone, more than one million deaths were attributed to cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan Africa.
In the broader context, that constitutes 5.4 per cent of all global cardiovascular disease-related fatalities and 13 per cent of all deaths in Africa.
People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease or a stroke than people without diabetes.
30 per cent of Type 2 diabetes patients will develop heart failure in their lifetime.
Prevention begins with assessing your risk
As diabetes grows its footprint across the continent, so too does the burden of heart failure.
And people with heart failure in Type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of death compared with people who have Type 2 diabetes but without heart failure.
While the statistics may seem alarming, prevention is possible.
A simple assessment from a healthcare professional can help diabetic patients at risk of cardiovascular disease take life-saving preventative measures – even if they are asymptomatic when they are assessed.
Why testing matters – even if there are not any symptoms
If you are assessed as having a high risk for developing heart failure by a healthcare professional, there are effective and safe interventions that can be provided to prevent the development of cardiovascular disease.
Early assessment – the ultimate line of defence.
There is now a straightforward science to assess your risk of cardiovascular disease.
It all begins with a simple, relatively non-invasive blood test.
Having provided a sample to a clinician, your test will present biomarkers that can diagnose your risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Your healthcare provider will order an NT-proBNP test to assess your risk or deliver a diagnosis.
A visit to your healthcare professional, who helps you treat your diabetes, can result in him or her recommending this test to assess your risk of developing heart failure.
Your healthcare professional will test or refer you for testing based on their risk assessment.
Once you know your risk, documented treatment options like ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers can reduce your risk of developing heart failure.
Ultimately, if you or a family member has diabetes – with specific emphasis on Type 2 – getting an early assessment can drastically reduce your risk of heart failure or provide the data your healthcare professional needs to treat you.
The value of diagnostics in practice
Before assessing your risk of diabetes-related cardiovascular conditions, a healthcare professional must test for diabetes and advise you on treatment options.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, around 13 million adults living with diabetes in Africa remain undiagnosed.
That is an astonishing 54 per cent of the total number of adults with diabetes on the continent.
Diabetes is a multifaceted disease that is increasing its reach in Africa.
Together with cardiovascular disease and other complications associated with it, it is a significant contributor to Africa’s burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NDCs).
While diabetes may be a disease that is managed rather than cured, modern diagnostics and treatments can be the catalysts for better quality of life in the long term.
As celebrity chef – Alvin Leung – suggests that, “Diabetes is not curable. It’s sustainable”.
If you have diabetes, take a moment to consider your risks and get an early assessment for cardiovascular disease.
And if you suspect that you have any symptoms associated with diabetes, consult a healthcare professional sooner rather than later.
For a list of the symptoms related to diabetes, visit:https://www.rochediabetescaremea.com/en/diabetes-basics/world-diabetes-day-what-diabetes.
The author is an endocrinologist and specialist physician at Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital.
