Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: from clinical care to health policy

Abstract

The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology Commission provides a comprehensive, evidence-based review of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa, one of the most important emerging diseases and markers of the global epidemic of non-communicable diseases. The authors provide a detailed analysis of the significant knowledge gaps in the global epidemiology and burden of diabetes and its complications in sub-Saharan Africa and emphasize the need to develop local systems to ascertain population representative data. The commission delineates the current health system’s barriers adequate diabetes care delivery in the region, concluding that sub-Saharan Africa remains ill equipped in terms of diagnostic and monitoring tools, adequately trained health care professionals, access to essential therapeutics, and availability of guidelines and disease registries. They add an estimate of the economic burden of diabetes, including direct cost to the individual and indirect cost to countries, including the expected tripling in cost until 2030 and the anticipated inability of health systems in the region to assimilate this financial burden.