Six out of ten Kenyans are suffering from diabetes but they are not aware, reveals a report from the Ministry of Health.
According to the Head of Non-Communicable Diseases Joseph Kibachio, between 650,000 to 1.5 million Kenyans are undiagnosed with the disease which is largely associated with the lifestyle.
Medics are now warning of more deaths from the controllable condition should Kenyans continue avoiding routine checkups on their health status.
“Cases of this condition are on the rise at an alarming rate because of poor lifestyle and lack of early diagnosis. We are likely to witness more deaths,” said Kibachio.
The estimated number of people with diabetes is projected to shoot to135 percent by 2040 to account for 1,125,000 people up from the 478,000 recorded in 2015.
Kabachio says diabetes remains one of the leading non- communicable diseases (NCD) that accounts for 40 percent of deaths in Kenya annually.
He noted that the Ministry of Health is harnessing innovative partnerships with the county governments and various organisations to significantly reduce cost of drugs as well as ensure that public health facilities are well stocked.
“More than 20 diabetes comprehensive care clinics in county referral hospitals have been established and we are in the process of supporting the establishment of more clinics,” he added.