The World Diabetes Day, celebrated annually on November 14 draws attention to diabetes care, as well as urge the government to continue reinforcing those policies that contribute towards lessening the plight of those living with this non-communicable disease.  

2024 World Diabetes Day theme: ‘Diabetes and Well-being’, and further casts a spotlight on the Health Promotion Levy (HPL) being a pivotal first step in ensuring that store and supermarket shelves lessen the temptation of sugar-sweetened beverages for consumers.  

HEALA Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Nzama Mbalati says that diabetes Left untreated or detected late diabetes can wreak havoc on individuals’ health and livelihoods, as well as the national fiscus.  

According to Mbalati ,diabetes for diagnosed patients' alone costs SA’s health system about R2.7 billion ($149.47 million).  

Further, she explains that severe complications associated with diabetes range from loss of sight, strokes, and amputation of legs to heart conditions, nerve damage, and kidney problems, to name a few.  

"There's the growing epidemic of diabetes in SA. In townships, villages and some urban areas, supermarkets are saturated with vigorously marketed, cheap sugary drinks , the likes of energy drinks, fruit juices, and fizzy drinks. In some areas, particularly where there is limited access to clean running water, people opt to quench their thirst with sugary drinks because some can be as cheap as below $0.55. Therefore, it is important that we enable consumers to move to healthier alternatives instead of resorting to sugary drinks as an easily-accessible option,” notes Mbalati

--ChannelAfrica--