ONE IN FOUR
Coloureds have highest diabetes rate in the Cape
The new findings challenge type 2 diabetes statistics that suggest SA’s Indian population has the highest rate
Diabetes in the Cape is more prevalent in the coloured community, with one in four adults likely to be affected. This is one of the findings of a study into the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among the Bellville South community in the northern suburbs of Cape Town. "This population [coloured] has a very high prevalence of diabetes. Over the age of 40, nearly one in every four individuals either have diabetes or are at high risk of developing it," said Rajiv Erasmus from the faculty of medicine and health sciences at Stellenbosch University and lead researcher of the study, which was published in the South African Medical Journal. The research was a collaborative effort between Stellenbosch University, the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Walter Sisulu University and the South African Medical Research Council. According to Statistics SA, diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the country. With type 2 diabetes, the body either fails to make enough insulin – a hormone...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.