Prevalence and complications of diabetes mellitus in Northern Africa, a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundDiabetes is increasingly becoming a major chronic disease burden all over the world. This requires a shift in healthcare priorities and up-to-date data on the epidemiology and impact of diabetes in all regions of the world to help plan and prioritize health programs. We systematically reviewed the literature on diabetes prevalence and its complications in the UN sub region of Northern Africa including Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan and Western Sahara.MethodsA systematic literature review of papers published on diabetes prevalence and complications in North Africa from January 1990 to July 2012. Literature searches were conducted using electronic databases.ResultsDiabetes prevalence ranged from 2.6% in rural Sudan to 20.0% in urban Egypt. Diabetes prevalence was significantly higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Undiagnosed diabetes is common in Northern Africa with a prevalence ranging from 18% to 75%. The prevalence of chronic diabetes complications ranged from 8.1% to 41.5% for retinopathy, 21% to 22% for albuminuria, 6.7% to 46.3% for nephropathy and 21.9% to 60% for neuropathy.ConclusionsDiabetes is an important and common health problem in Northern Africa. Variations in prevalence of diabetes between individual countries are observed. Chronic complications of diabetes are common. Urgent measures are needed to prevent diabetes and its related complications in Northern Africa.

Antidiabetic and anti-oxidant activities of the methanol leaf extract of <i>Vernonia amygdalina</i> in alloxan-induced diabetes in Wistar rats

“…It is presently a very prevalent disease, especially in Africa (Aguocha et al 2013;Bos & Agyemang 2013). Uncontrolled hyperglycaemia can lead to increased production of free radicals, especially reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen oxygen species (NOS) (Robertson 2004).…”

Modulatory Effect of an Isolated Triglyceride from Fenugreek Seed Oil on of α-Amylase, Lipase and ACE Activities, Liver-Kidney Functions and Metabolic Disorders of Diabetic Rats

“…The triglycerides profile was obtained by a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography HPLC HP 1100, Agilent Technology, USA equipped with a differential refractometer detector, using a C 18 column 250 mm, 4.6 mm, 5 μm particle size . The eluent was a mixture of acetonitrile/acetone 50/50, v/v at a flow rate of 1.5 mL min 1 and an injection volume of 20 μL of the sample prepared as indicated above. The identified fenugreek TG of seed oil was concluded by comparing the retention time of standard TG peak.…”

“…Diabetes mellitus DM is an endocrine metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and glucosuria, with various organs toxicity 1,2 . At present, many synthetic hypoglycemic drugs are available.…”

Prevalence of diabetic foot ulceration and associated risk factors: an old and still major public health problem in Khartoum, Sudan?

“…Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) was noted more in males, type 2 diabetics, older individuals, low body mass index (BMI), longer diabetic duration, hypertension, diabetic retinopathy (DR), and smoking history than in patients without DFU (8). Increase in prevalence of diabetes complications in Africa was attributed to rise in financial health expenditure, poor medical facility and lack of adequate diabetes service in urban and rural areas (9,10). The prevalence of diabetic foot in Cameroon, Nigeria and Tanzania were estimated to be 13%, 9.5% and 15% respectively (11)(12)(13).…”