Spike in rural diabetes cases alarms health experts

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Diabetes cases are spiking in rural areas across East Africa, erasing the once-clear divide between urban and rural health outcomes. Once considered a predominantly urban concern, Type 2 diabetes is now spreading rapidly in villages, where sedentary lifestyles and poor awareness are contributing to a silent epidemic.

The 2023 STEPS Survey on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Uganda revealed a troubling rise: Type 2 diabetes prevalence has doubled to 2.6%, up from 1.4% in 2014. The majority of those affected are unaware they even have the disease. Experts warn that without urgent intervention, the trend could overwhelm already-strained health systems in resource-limited settings.

Against this backdrop, the 7th East Africa Diabetes Study Group (EADSG) Congress and Scientific Sessions officially kicked off on May 28, 2025, at the Speke Convention Centre in Munyonyo.

The three-day congress brings together over 300 delegates from across East Africa and beyond to discuss diabetes under the theme: “Diabetes Care in Resource-Limited Settings – A Comprehensive Approach.”

Delegates of the East Africa Diabetes Study Group Congress pose for a group photo. (Photo by Agnes Kyotalengerire)

Echoing the urgency behind the theme, Dr. Silver Bahendeka emphasised the need for innovation and sustainability in addressing the growing burden of diabetes in the region.

“This congress is more than just a series of presentations. It is a unique and invaluable opportunity to learn from the diverse perspectives of our international and regional experts, to challenge existing paradigms, and to forge powerful new collaborations that will extend far beyond these walls,” Dr. Bahendeka said.

The congress theme deeply resonates with the East Africa Diabetes Study Group’s mission to improve diabetes care across sub-Saharan Africa, according to Prof. Kaushik Ramaiya, General Secretary of the EADSG Congress.

“We are dedicated to fostering global collaborations that drive advancements in diabetes care,” he noted.

Globally, diabetes continues to rise at an alarming rate. According to the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas (2025), 11.1% of adults aged 20–79, approximately 1 in 9, are now living with the condition. Startlingly, more than four in ten are unaware they have it. In low- and middle-income countries, the rise has been especially rapid. Over half of those diagnosed in 2022 were not taking any medication.

By 2050, projections show that one in eight adults—around 853 million people—will be living with diabetes, marking a 46% increase from current levels.

Diabetes, a chronic condition characterised by persistently high blood sugar levels, can lead to serious complications if left untreated, including damage to the brain, heart, eyes, feet, and reproductive organs. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, is closely linked to sedentary lifestyles and excessive weight gain.

With the rural-urban gap in prevalence disappearing, experts at the congress are urging governments, health professionals, and communities to act now.

The solution, they say, lies in a comprehensive, locally-adapted approach to prevention, early detection, and accessible treatment—especially in resource-limited settings where the disease is growing unchecked.