Thousands screened for diabetes

MORE than 3 000 people were screened for diabetes during the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes campaign this month.

Novo Nordisk, a South African-based company, is regarded as a world leader in diabetes care. The project manager of Novo Nordisk, Michael Brown, described the campaign as a success.”It was phenomenal, I was very surprised with the response,” he said.Of the 3 000 people tested, five per cent were identified as undiagnosed diabetes sufferers.They were referred to local doctors for treatment.Brown said regular diabetes screening is of utmost importance, because many people do not know that they have diabetes.”Diabetes is a silent killer,” Brown remarked.Some of the early signs of diabetes are frequent infections, blurred vision, tingling of hands and feet, frequent urination, thirst and tiredness.People with diabetes have too much sugar in their blood because their bodies cannot use it properly.This causes a variety of serious complications such as blindness, kidney failure and heart disease.The diabetes screening campaign ended last week at Keetmanshoop.Other towns visited during the campaign, which was run in conjunction with the Health Ministry, included Swakopmund, Otjiwarongo, Windhoek, Tsumeb, Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa.The project manager of Novo Nordisk, Michael Brown, described the campaign as a success.”It was phenomenal, I was very surprised with the response,” he said. Of the 3 000 people tested, five per cent were identified as undiagnosed diabetes sufferers.They were referred to local doctors for treatment.Brown said regular diabetes screening is of utmost importance, because many people do not know that they have diabetes.”Diabetes is a silent killer,” Brown remarked.Some of the early signs of diabetes are frequent infections, blurred vision, tingling of hands and feet, frequent urination, thirst and tiredness.People with diabetes have too much sugar in their blood because their bodies cannot use it properly.This causes a variety of serious complications such as blindness, kidney failure and heart disease.The diabetes screening campaign ended last week at Keetmanshoop.Other towns visited during the campaign, which was run in conjunction with the Health Ministry, included Swakopmund, Otjiwarongo, Windhoek, Tsumeb, Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa.