Before describing the overall situation of diabetes in Kenya, it is important for us to know what the condition is first. “Diabetes is the condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy” (CDC). This NCD (Non-Communicable Disease) affects how the body produces or utilizes glucose (blood sugar).

There are 3 main types of diabetes:

1. Type 1 Diabetes: Body does not produce enough insulin
2. Type 2 Diabetes: Body produces insulin but can’t use it well
3. Gestational Diabetes: A temporary condition in pregnancy

The most prevalent of the three in Kenya is type 2 diabetes, also known as Diabetes Mellitus. It is estimated that about 3.3% of Kenyans, 1.7 million, are living with diabetes today (Kenya National Diabetes Strategy, 2010). Of these, only half are diagnosed while the rest live at risk of developing serious complications (MOH, 2016).

What makes this so dangerous is that Diabetes doesn’t show early signs and symptoms yet it possesses the grave complications of organ damage, eyesight loss, kidney failure, stroke, non healing wounds, and heart attacks which develop undetected (WHO). It is also very expensive to treat diabetes since current health policies inadequately fund NCD’s (Non-Communicable Diseases) compared to Communicable Diseases (CD’s). It is projected that the prevalence of diabetes will rise to 4.5% by 2045 (Kenya National Diabetes Strategy, 2010). According to WHO, about 1% of deaths in Kenya in 2012 were directly attributable to diabetes. This figure is expected to rise if no interventions are made.

Sources: CDC ,WHO, Kenya National Diabetes Strategy 2010