Abstract:
The global prevalence and impact of diabetes has increased dramatically, particularly
in sub-Saharan Africa. This region faces unique challenges in combating the disease including
lack of funding for noncommunicable diseases, lack of availability of studies and guidelines
specific to the population, lack of availability of medications, differences in urban and rural
patients, and inequity between public and private sector health care. Because of these challenges,
diabetes has a greater impact on morbidity and mortality related to the disease in sub-Saharan
Africa than any other region in the world. In order to address these unacceptably poor trends,
contextualized strategies for the prevention, identification, management, and financing of diabe tes care within this population must be developed. This narrative review provides insights into
the policy landscape, epidemiology, patho physiology, care protocols, medication availability,
and health care systems to give readers a comprehensive summary of many factors in these
domains as they pertain to diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to providing a review of
the current evidence available in these domains, potential solutions to address the major gaps in
care will be proposed to reverse the negative trends seen with diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa