Diabetes On The Rise

Nov 15, 2001

The number of diabetes patients has increased 100 times from 5,000 in 1998 to over 500,000, health experts have said.

By Charity Kalebbo and Kikonyongo Ngatya. The number of diabetes patients has increased 100 times from 5,000 in 1998 to over 500,000, health experts have said. Doctors warned yesterday during celebrations to mark the World Diabetes Day in Kampala that the numbers were likely to shoot up due to changes in life style. Diabetes is a severe accumulation of body sugars in the blood. People who are physically inactive, those subjected to stress and with a background of the disease in their families are likely to suffer from the disease. It is associated with blindness, kidney failure and impotence. Meanwhile, diabetes patients yesterday held a brief demonstration at Mulago hospital, complaining about shortages of insulin drugs. “We want insulin,” they shouted at the doctors at the Davis Lecture theatre. Ends

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