Diabetes remains one of the leading causes of major health crises in many countries, especially with the widespread culture of fast food, which is considered a significant factor in contracting the disease.
November 14 marks World Diabetes Day, an opportunity to highlight the seriousness of the disease and raise alarm bells about the suffering of patients worldwide, among 537 million affected globally, including approximately 19.8% in Tunisia.
According to statistics from a study by the National Institute of Public Health in collaboration with the Tunisian Ministry of Health and the Tunisian Association of Endocrine and Diabetic Diseases in 2021, 50% of diabetes cases in Tunisia remain undiagnosed. Only 15.5% of diagnosed cases are aged over 15 years.
Diabetes represents one of the top five causes of death among Tunisians, resulting in 8.1% mortality in women and 5.7% in men, according to 2021 statistics.
The United Nations General Assembly designated this day to monitor efforts to improve health and ensure access to treatment in the face of a disease that is escalating globally, mostly affecting middle-income countries like Tunisia.
The World Health Organization states that diabetes, the 'silent disease,' can lead to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and at its severe stages, even lower limb amputations. Its fatality rate increased by 3% between 2000 and 2019.
Statistics from the organization indicate a notable increase in diabetes cases in the last five years, with forecasts predicting a doubling of these numbers, reaching over 783 million affected individuals by 2045.
Those suffering from this chronic disease face health crises, as documented by 'Al-Mushahil,' to understand the foremost difficulties they and their families encounter.
Arabia Al-Hafnawi lost her 53-year-old husband due to diabetes. He developed a neglected foot wound that, due to the disease, led to a challenging healing process and ultimately the amputation of his foot. She said, "Despite numerous efforts from doctors to save his life, their attempts were unsuccessful, and he fell into a coma before passing away."
Saeda Bouannan, 53, suffers from diabetes, highlighting the main challenge faced by patients: a lack of awareness about the seriousness of the disease during treatment. Some cases might experience fluctuations in blood sugar levels, impacting other organs and potentially leading to fatal consequences.
She added with deep sorrow, "It's a lifelong treatment, a chronic disease with no definitive cure."
Latifa Al-Makni has been dealing with diabetes for over 5 years. Initially handling it improperly, she said, "I didn't care for my diet properly, didn't cut down on sugars, and neglected the treatment until the doctor recommended pills. Eventually, my health deteriorated, and I was forced to use insulin injections for treatment."
These injections have taken a toll on Al-Makni, mentally and physically, as she administers injections to her body three times a day. She added sadly, "It's challenging to find a spot on the body for the injection. We not only suffer from excessive medication but also deprivation from tasting certain foods and drinks."
Insulin injections were invented in the 1920s as a substitute for the natural insulin produced by the pancreas. Saeda Bouannan fears slipping into a coma or having a stroke leading to death, especially as she uses injections of powerful yellow insulin, which has a rapid effect, acting within 10 to 30 minutes of injection, covering the body's insulin needs during and after meals.
Another type of insulin, called the green one, has an intermediate effect, covering the body's needs for half a day, starting an hour after the dose, according to a medical journal.
Atef Ben Brahem, a nutrition specialist, told 'Al-Mushahil' that preventing the disease involves maintaining a healthy body, engaging in 30 minutes of physical activity daily, and following a healthy diet that reduces sugars, fats, and stress.
The World Health Organization encourages adopting effective measures for diabetes prevention, as announced in April 2021 under a global pact aiming for sustainable improvements in disease prevention and care for affected individuals.
The organization affirmed that among the measures are establishing scientific guidelines for non-communicable disease prevention, setting rules and standards for disease diagnosis and care.
In May 2022, the organization ratified five global goals for the disease to achieve by 2030: achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight, sustaining physical activity with moderate exercise for 30 minutes daily, adopting a healthy diet reducing sugar and saturated fat intake, not smoking, and providing medical care to address diabetes effects.
