Poor tests behind diabetes deaths

Children with diabetes often die prematurely due to misdiagnosis, a centre for the disease has said.

This is common among the poor, who cannot afford the cost of diabetes care, according to the Kenya Diabetes Management and Information (DMI) Centre.

Besides early death in children, diabetes also impairs the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.

Out of every 100 diabetics in the country, 10 are children.

The disease affects more than 25,000 children and over 700,000 adults, and yet only one in four are diagnosed, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

It is this concern that prompted the launch of a six-month National Diabetes Awareness campaign in Nairobi, which seeks to increase awareness and early diagnosis of diabetes.

Part of the campaign will be the training of healthcare professionals on management of the disease.

Director of Medical Services Nicholas Muraguri on Wednesday launched the campaign, to be rolled out in Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi and Nairobi (specifically Lang’ata Sub-County).

He said the country should use the same vigour it employed in containing HIV infections to tackle diabetes.

“We are proud to partner with the private sector to address diabetes that is claiming over 15,000 Kenyans annually. Like cancer, the key is early diagnosis. It takes only five seconds to know your blood sugar,” he said.

The campaign is led by the Ministry of Health, Novo Nordisk (a global healthcare company), the Danish Embassy, Philips Pharmaceutical, Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, Christian Health Association of Kenya, and the DMI Centre.

Novo Nordisk Country Manager Newton Siele said the project was highlighting the issue of diabetics in Kenya.

“There are currently over 800 children enrolled in our project targeting the age group.

“They receive free insulin and know how to manage their condition. We have also trained over 600 health workers,” said Mr Siele.