Ghana Ranks 6th On Diabetes Table In Africa

Ghana ranks 6th on diabetes table in Africa

Ghana has been ranked sixth among other Africa countries, according to statistics by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on diabetes between 2016 and 2017.
The Chairperson of International Diabetes Federation of West Africa, also President of National Diabetes Association of Ghana, Elizabeth Esi Denyoh, who made this known at the commemoration of the 2017 World Diabetes Day at Kyebi in the East Akim Municipality of the Eastern Region, explained that it is estimated that undiagnosed diabetes accounts for 60 percent of those with the disease in Cameroon, 70 percent in Ghana and over 80 percent in Tanzania.
She said Ghana, among other Africa countries, counts approximately 13.6 million people with diabetes, which includes sub-Saharan Africa counts over seven million people with diabetes.
According to her, Nigeria has the highest number of 1,218,000 diabetes cases, followed by Uganda and Tanzania.
Speaking further on the theme: ‘Women Unite Against Diabetes’, Mrs Denyoh appealed to the government to reverse the decision of the cancellation of VAT exemptions on all the diabetes drugs because of their high cost in order to enable patients to afford them.
She also called on parliament to take a look at introducing the ‘sin taxes’ to tax fizzy drinks, alcoholic beverages, sweets and cigarettes so that the proceeds would go into the care of non-communicable diseases.
199m Women Diabetics
Dr Charity Sarpong, Eastern Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, disclosed that over 199 million women are currently living with diabetes worldwide.
“This is projected to increase to Continue reading

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Northern Ontario lacks diabetes resources

Northern Ontario lacks diabetes resources
Thursday, November 23, 2017 3:56:04 EST AM
World Diabetes Day is Nov. 14 and the International Diabetes Federation encourages getting screened for type 2 diabetes to reduce the risk of complications. (Metro News Service)
NORTHERN ONTARIO - It could be dubbed a diabetes catch-22.
In pockets of Ontario where the disease is so prevalent, resources to treat and promote healthy lifestyles to nip some forms of diabetes in the bud are often most sparse.
So, if you're in downtown Toronto, you can probably get to a dietitian or diabetes educator who can advise you about your risk and help you get going on a lifestyle program Those resources are so much less available in the North, says Dr. Jan Hux, chief science officer for Diabetes Canada.
North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) figures have suggested that at least 12 per cent of Northeastern Ontarios population is affected by the often debilitating and sometimes fatal disease, compared to some 10 per cent of Ontarians. Statistics are even more staggering for those living along the Hudson Bay and James Bay coast, where some 24 per cent of the population lives with diabetes.
Many high-risk communities, where there are large pockets of low-income neighbourhoods, are often dogged with limited access to recreation opportunities.
They can't afford the gym membership, they can't afford the running shoes, they can't afford the babysitter, Hux told The Sault Star in an interview from Toronto. So, (opportunities) may be there, but they're not accessible to them.
About 90 Continue reading

A Practical Approach to Hypertension Management in Diabetes

, Volume 8, Issue5 , pp 981989 | Cite as
A Practical Approach to Hypertension Management in Diabetes
Hypertension is one of the most important comorbidities of diabetes, contributing significantly to death and disability and leads to macrovascular and microvascular complications. When assessing the medical priorities for patients with diabetes, treating hypertension should be a primary consideration. Practical approaches to hypertension in diabetes, including individualized targets are discussed, as per stage and complication of diabetes, according to current studies and guidelines. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are the most effective drugs for treating hypertension in diabetes, in the absence of contraindications. Calcium antagonists or diuretics are acceptable as second-line agents. Once the target is achieved, antihypertensive drugs should be continued. Newer antidiabetes medications such as sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA), and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) have antihypertensive properties and may assist in treatment decision-making.
AntidiabeticAntihypertensiveAzilsartanDiabetes, DPP4GLP1RaHypertensionMacrovascularMicrovascularSGLT2
Hypertension is one of the most important comorbidities of diabetes [ 1 , 2 ], contributing significantly to death and disability [ 3 ]. It is responsible for macrovascular (atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, stroke) and microvascular (retinopathy, neuropathy, nephr Continue reading

Derek Theler: Diabetes Warrior

Its a superhero! Its a Baby Daddy! Its a Dexcom Warrior! Its Derek Theler!
The Marvels New Warriors actor is the face of Dexcoms Call of the Warrior campaign, launching this month. Derek spoke to Beyond Type 1 about what it means to be a superhero both on set and while managing diabetes. Having been diagnosed with Type 1 at age 3, he knows a lot about both.
Derek shared tips for maintaining the warrior-like focus that he uses in nearly every aspect of his life: reaching out about CGM technology as a spokesperson for Dexcom, preparing for a day on set (a diabetes bag is essential), connecting with other diabetic buddies he meets (in real life!), and problem-solving when things go wrong in the most inconvenient of places, like in an audition room or out on the open ocean off of South Africa.
Tell us about partnering with Dexcom on the Call of the Warrior campaign!
The way it works is, we want people to post either photos or videos of themselves giving their best Warrior Call on our Facebook page and Instagram and use #WarriorUp. Its a shout in the face of diabetes. Its a great campaign because people can be creative with it, and anyone can do it.
For each post, Dexcom will give a $1 donation to a bunch of different diabetes charities. Im really excited for this because its not a campaign where I have to ask people for money all you have to do is use #WarriorUp and Dexcom will donate the money.
My younger sister is also a Type 1 diabetic, and shes the reason I got turned on to the Dexcom. She was trying to get pregnant and she realized that a CGM is a really helpful Continue reading

Kid on cutting edge in diabetes trial

Jackson 6-year-old tests new insulin pump for Type 1 youngsters.
Cashs mom, Mills Halpin, encourages him to eat more chicken at dinner with his brother in late June. Getting the right amount of carbs can be a guessing game because sometimes he doesnt eat everything, she said.
Cash Halpin shovels the last bite of rice into his mouth and asks for another serving.
I ate all the carbs, he proudly announces, mouth still full.
Yeah, says his mother, Mills Halpin, who rolls her eyes at her 6-year-old son. Eat some protein.
His father, Mike Halpin, is beside him on an opened laptop, checking the latest data available from Cashs insulin pump. The boy is part of a clinical trial testing the Medtronic MiniMed670G, a system capable of continuously monitoring his glucose levels and making microadjustments to keep them consistent throughout the day.
Cash is in the youngest group of participants to be tested, ages 2 to 6. The same Medtronic model was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last fall for ages 14 and up.
Mike Halpin administers about a unit of insulin, a tiny bubble of hormone to handle the approximately 35 grams of carbs Cash is consuming for dinner. Manual adjustments are still required at mealtimes, but the new system offers his parents a little reprieve, something they havent experienced since hewas diagnosed three years ago.
Halpin has to wear an insulin pump at all times, which monitors his levels and injects insulin when needed through an infusion port under his skin.
With this new system, if they are off a little you just cant be exact all the Continue reading