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EF: Diabetes is the second leading cause of death in South Africa, being the first leading cause in women. Could you elaborate on the burden of diabetes in the region?
MM: According to Stats SA 2019 we have 4.5 to 5 million with diabetes in S.A. It is the 1st leading cause of death in women in S.A. and 2nd overall leading cause of death 0.1% behind T.B. as the leading killer.
EF: What is the role you play in Diabetes South Africa and what are your priorities for 2024?
MM: Diabetes SA has been in operation for 55 years, is a registered Non-profit and public benefit organization and is a member of the International Diabetes Federation which represents 240 diabetes organizations in 170 countries. Diabetes S.A. has Section 18A (1) approval under the "Income Tax Act" and upon request, donations will receive a tax receipt and will be tax-deductible to the donor. The organization also has BBBEE Level 2 Contributor status.
Our mission is to prevent diabetes through ongoing Awareness Programs promoting healthy lifestyles. To assist people with diabetes to live normal healthy lives as free as possible from serious diabetes complications.
Our key objectives are to increase diabetes awareness, prevention, and education amongst South Africans of all ages encourage healthy lifestyle choices, increase diabetes detection rates through ongoing screening campaigns, to provide information, education and support to people diagnosed with diabetes to encourage understanding and good management of the disease.
We also are keeping up to date with the latest research results relating to the treatment and diagnosis of diabetes and we reduce discrimination against people with diabetes.
Our Diabetes SA National Office is in Cape Town, with branches in Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, PE, and the Western Cape. DSA is run by volunteers. Diabetes SA believes in encouraging diabetes self-care, a vitally important and cost-effective investment. Treating diabetes and the devastating complications that can follow is far more expensive than providing preventative tools information and education on managing it.
The estimates of 4.6 million people with diabetes in South Africa and another 52% who are undiagnosed. Diabetes is the leading cause of death in Women in South Africa, and the 2nd leading cause of death overall. It is only 0.1% behind TB as the leading cause of death in S.A. It is imperative that we expand the programs and services offered by DSA, but to do this we need support and funding from individuals, government, and corporates.
EF: Monitoring the quality of diabetes care and evaluating the effectiveness of therapies and treatment in clinical practice is a challenge in South Africa. What strategies do you propose to address these challenges and build a health system that caters for the needs of South Africans with diabetes?
MM: Diabetes South Africa has had an advocacy policy for many years where we intervene and raise issues that need to be addressed.
EF: As South Africa’s National Strategic Plan (NSP) targets are 90-60-50, how can we keep the importance of this as the government transitions? What role do you see Diabetes South Africa playing in ensuring that these targets are met?
MM: Diabetes South Africa is a founder member of the SA Non-Communicable Disease Alliance which had its first meeting in 2006. We meet and communicate regularly with the government, and challenge when targets are not reached, or promises are not kept.
EF: What initiatives are you taking from your side, and how are you collaborating with other stakeholders to make a better South Africa for people living with diabetes?
MM: Diabetes South Africa is working with the SA Non-Communicable Disease Alliance to address issues around diabetes i.e. the availability and benefits of Insulin Pens versus Vials and syringes, which is an issue of accessibility at present.
EF: Diabetes is often referred to as a silent pandemic. Could you elaborate on the role you have from a Southern Africa IDF perspective in raising awareness about diabetes and its impact on the region? How can we increase access to medicines to patients in South Africa?
MM: I was contacted by the Eswatini Diabetes Association in December 2023 about the lack of insulin for many children with Type 1 in the region. I managed to put them in touch with an organization that had access and resolved the temporary problem.
The Southern African region is quite active in doing screening and diabetes education regularly throughout the year. Presently I am working with Botswana and Eswatini as well as some of our branches in South Africa to provide Diabetes Education for Health Care Providers in these areas over the next Year.
Last year 2 clinics in the Port Elizabeth area ran out of insulin. One of the board members from our Port Elizabeth Branch drove all the way to Gauteng to obtain insulin for patients who were not able to get their insulin from the 2 clinics.
We actively intervene when situations like this arise and are brought to our attention.
EF: How do you see the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) impacting South Africans, particularly in terms of diabetes care and management?
MM: We are not optimistic with regard to diabetes care and management under the proposed NHI. Diabetes care and management is not great at present in most of South Africa, so we are not hopeful of it improving with the implementation of NHI.
EF: Business Sector Commitment: Do you see the business sector being committed to the region, and how can we increase collaborations between the business sector, government, and civil society to address the diabetes epidemic in South Africa?
MM: Diabetes South Africa was established in 1969 (55 years ago) in order to assist patients with diabetes to manage it and try and prevent serious complications which arise from unmanaged diabetes. Over the years we have appealed to the government, Dept of Health, and CSI depts of Corporate, Trusts and Funding Organizations with very disappointing results. HIV/Aids, Cancer and TB are well funded, but not Diabetes South Africa. We have been on the verge of closing our doors many times over the years due to a lack of support. It is hard to try and continue when we can’t pay for staff or even our basic expenses. We have made personal sacrifices in order to keep going, as we experience how great the need is for our services. I honestly do not know how much longer we can continue without support.
EF: Is there any final message of the item that you would like to emphasize?
MM: Educating people diagnosed with diabetes is just as important if not more important as getting the right medication. If people with diabetes do not receive education or support, they will develop serious complications such as blindness, amputations, kidney failure and premature death, which come with unmanaged diabetes. We (every person) should be willing to help save a life by contributing to this cause. Help Diabetes South Africa to save lives.
