Diabetes now killing more people than TB, HIV/AIDS - Health Expert

Medical experts in the central region are calling for drastic measures to stop the increasing rate of diabetes in the country.

The disease according to the experts has assumed an alarming proportion necessitating urgent steps to curb further infections.

Speaking to Ultimate News’ Central regional correspondent Kwaku Baah-Acheamfour, a doctor with the Internal Medicine and Therapeutic Unit of the Medical School of the University of Cape Coast, Dr. Emmanuel Amissah explained that over 260,000 new cases of the disease have been recorded with about 5,000 deaths.

What he says makes the case worse is the fact that diabetes now kills more people than tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS infections in the country thereby reducing the country’s human resource base.

Three types of the disease, he added could be identified namely Type One which is found among children, Type Two found among adults and the gestational one which is found among pregnant women.

He is therefore calling on the public to take their health seriously so that they do not fall victim to this disease and avoid subsequent deaths.

Public education on the disease, he stressed ought to be enhanced so that people have the relevant knowledge in avoiding the disease.

He said some symptoms of the disease such as weight loss, fatigue, frequent urination and uncontrolled thirst resulting in rapid intake of water among others must closely be monitored.