Diabetes mellitus in Sudan: the size of the problem and the possibilities of efficient care

Sudan has, for a long time, suffered economic collapse, drought and civil war. Diabetes mellitus is currently emerging as an important health problem, especially in urban areas. The actual prevalence of diabetes is unknown although one small study showed a prevalence of 3.4%. Diabetes is the commonest cause of hospital admission and morbidity due to a non‐communicable disease (7 and 10% respectively). The problems of diabetes care in Sudan include the lack of efficient diabetes care centres, lack of specially trained personnel, the high cost of anti‐diabetic treatments, poor compliance with therapy or diet, ignorance and wrong beliefs, food and dietary factors and gender‐related problems. The goal of efficient diabetes care can be achieved through implementing a national diabetes programme. This programme should be responsible for personnel training, establishing model care centres, patients' education, availability and affordability of insulin, scientific and clinical research and primary prevention. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.