Lebowakgomo - Taxi drivers and commuters in Limpopo have been urged to get tested for diabetes.
Limpopo Health and Social Development MEC Norman Mabasa was speaking at the Lebowakgomo taxi rank on Wednesday at an event to mark World Diabetes Day.
"Diabetes is a serious disease which can be successfully treated through commitment, and one of the biggest challenges people face is that there are often no symptoms, which is why regular check-ups with your doctor are so important," Mabasa told the drivers and commuters.
He warned that if diabetes was not detected early or managed, it could damage various parts of the body, leading to heart disease, stroke, amputation, blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage.
"A simple blood test, with instant results, can diagnose diabetes and prevent permanent damage to the body due to too much sugar in the blood," warned Mabasa.
World Diabetes Day is celebrated globally on November 14 since it was initiated in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
According to Diabetes South Africa (DSA), developing countries, like South Africa, are the worst hit when it comes to diabetes.
DSA found that between four and six million people in South Africa have diabetes and that most are unaware of it.
According to the IDF, diabetes is responsible for 4.6 million deaths a year around the world and is among the top 10 causes of disability, including blindness and the amputation of legs or feet.
Diabetes can be managed with proper medical care and the right diet.
Those most at risk are those who have a family history of diabetes, diseases of the pancreas, are obese or smoke.
Warning signs include a frequent need to urinate, an unquenchable thirst, tiredness, tingling or numbness in hands and feet and blurred vision. - SAnews.gov.za
