Diabetes problems make Africa more likely to die from COVID-19, says WHO

Diabetes problem makes Africa more vulernable to COVID-19 death, says WHO Death rates from COVID-19 infections are much higher in patients with diabetes in Africa, where the number of people with diabetes is growing rapidly, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. George Obulutsa Reuters

NAIROBI, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Death rates from COVID-19 infections are much higher in patients with diabetes in Africa, where the number of people with diabetes is growing rapidly, the World Health Organization said on Thursday.

A WHO analysis of data from 13 African countries found a 10.2% case fatality rate in COVID-19 patients with diabetes, compared with 2.5% for COVID-19 patients overall.

"COVID-19 is delivering a clear message: fighting the diabetes epidemic in Africa is in many ways as critical as the battle against the current pandemic," said Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, in a statement.

An estimated 70% of people with diabetes on the continent were unaware they had disease, according to the WHO. ...