Gauteng MEC for Health announces strategies against diabetes

The Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, outlined strategies to curb the spread of diabetes in the country during a recent summit.

The South African 2023 diabetes summit was held on November 15 with the focus of translating policy into reality, focusing on the newly adopted 90-60-50 cascade for diabetes and hypertension as the first step to improving early detection and treatment of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD).

During her speech, she acknowledged that the summit was held in response to World Diabetes Day, observed globally on November 14.

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This annual occasion serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to prioritise the prevention, early detection and management of diabetes.

The focus for this year’s campaign is on delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes and any diabetes-related complication with the 2023 sub-theme of Know your risk, Know your response.

The prevalence of diabetes is rapidly increasing in South Africa and has reached 11.3%, the highest in Africa.
Just under half (45.4%) of people living with diabetes in South Africa are undiagnosed.

“Gauteng has reached about 19.4% and 25.7% for diabetes and hypertension.

“When diabetes is undetected or inadequately treated, there is a risk of serious and life-threatening complications, such as a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and lower-limb amputation,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.

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“Preventing type 2 diabetes and its complications is within our reach. By adopting and maintaining healthy habits, we can delay or even prevent the onset of this condition.

“Small lifestyle changes, such as regular physical activity, a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight, can make a significant difference in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and many other diseases,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.

This year’s summit, Diabetes Targets: Translating Policy into Reality, resonates with the vision for a comprehensive and integrated approach to address diabetes in SA.

“The National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2022-2027 was introduced last year to provide a comprehensive framework to guide our efforts in reducing premature mortality from NCDs and promoting mental health and well-being.

This plan emphasises a 5×5 strategy, targeting the five major groups of NCDs alongside five shared behavioural risk factors.

“By implementing this strategy, we aim to create a strong foundation for action and foster multi-sectoral collaboration to combat NCDs effectively.

“We have set ambitious targets through the 90-60-50 cascade for diabetes and hypertension,” said the MEC.

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“We also established functional support groups (Adherence clubs) in all of the province’s sub-districts.

Accomplishments include controlled diabetic patients receiving their medication from pick-up locations such as community halls, churches and older persons service centres.”

Medication is pre-packaged to ensure that patients do not have to wait in the facilities for too long.

The appointment of 75 optometrists also aids in the detection of retinopathy early on.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said the challenges are:

• Increased complications due to diabetes such as amputations.

• Unemployed diabetic patients not receiving state grants which leads to poor eating habits.

• Shortage of ophthalmic nurses and optometrists in Gauteng.

• Poor coverage of podiatry services.

• Patients not honouring their appointment schedules therefore causing long queues.

Interventions include:

• Adaptating the implementation of the national strategic plan on the prevention and control of NCDs 2022- 27.

• Screening and awareness campaigns throughout the province where communities were provided with the opportunity to screen for eye conditions.

• Improvement of podiatrist appointments.

• Budget allocation for spectacles for the elderly and school-going children.