The state of diabetes in South Africa
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that close to 2 million South African adults, who make up 6,5% of the population, have diabetes. More recently, a national survey published in August 2013 (SANHANES-1, 2013) showed that 9,5% of the study population has diabetes and 18,4% is pre-diabetic.
This is a conservative estimate, as 50 to 85% of the population, particularly those living in rural areas, has not been tested and could push the statistic much higher. People with common conditions such as hypertension and obesity are at a greater risk of developing diabetes, so when it comes to preventing and managing the disease’s effects, a healthy lifestyle and good nutrition are essential.