The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised concern that nearly three out of every four adults living with diabetes in Africa are unaware of their condition, warning that late diagnosis increases the risk of serious complications and death.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, disclosed this in his message to mark the 2026 World Diabetes Day, observed on November 14, with the theme “Early Action on Diabetes.”
Janabi said an estimated 24.6 million adults aged 20 to 79 were living with diabetes in the African Region in 2024, a figure projected to rise to 59.5 million by 2050, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
He warned that undiagnosed cases expose millions of people to complications such as kidney failure, blindness, cardiovascular disease and lower-limb amputations.
The WHO regional director urged individuals to seek medical attention when they experience warning signs, including increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, persistent tiredness and blurred vision.
He also advised people at increased risk to undergo screening, noting that diabetes could develop without obvious symptoms.
Janabi called on governments to prioritise prevention, early diagnosis and continuous treatment through primary healthcare and universal health coverage.
He said this would require sustained investment in public awareness, affordable insulin and essential medicines, diagnostic services, trained health workers and reliable health systems.
He noted that WHO and its partners were supporting African countries to strengthen diabetes services through initiatives including the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable Diseases Interventions (WHO PEN), HEARTS, HEARTS-D, and PEN-Plus.
Janabi commended Rwanda for achieving nationwide district-level coverage of PEN-Plus but said significant gaps remained in access to trained health workers, diagnostics, essential medicines and continuous care.
He urged development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector to support government-led efforts, particularly in underserved communities.
“Know the symptoms. Do not ignore the warning signs. Seek testing and care early. Encourage others to do the same,” he said.
