According to specialists, the Ziguinchor region is experiencing a surge in diabetes cases, with a constantly increasing number of consultations. At the diabetology and endocrinology center of the Ziguinchor regional hospital, three to five cases of diabetes are detected daily, while the region's diabetes association reports over 10,000 cases identified in the region's healthcare facilities.

November 14th marks World Diabetes Day, under the theme "Diabetes and Well-being." In the southern capital, the specialized center for the treatment and management of this disease is constantly busy. According to diabetologist Dr. Djibril Dieng Diouf, the situation is worrying, and the number of people seeking consultations is surging; cases are rising to as high as five detected per day.

"Given the volume of consultations, I can say that we receive at least 20 patients per day. These are patients who are regularly monitored, without counting the referrals that come from other facilities. And that is around three to five patients per day. So, we can say that the situation is a little alarming here in Ziguinchor, because there are many diabetics currently. We encounter new cases every time, whether it is gestational diabetes or type 2 diabetes, which are the two types of diabetes that we receive here most often," emphasizes Dr. Diouf.

Boubacar Wade, president of the Ziguinchor Diabetics Association, highlights the difficulties in accessing care, particularly the high cost of medication. Many diabetics struggle to obtain certain medications.

"If we take the three departments, that's at least 10,000 to 15,000 diabetics screened at the health facilities. The cost of medicines is very high. Insulins, essential medicines that can only be found in pharmacies. Few Senegalese can access these products. We are calling on the State for a strong subsidy for these products," pleads Mr. Wade.

Meanwhile, Dr. Djibril Dieng Diouf urges people to review their diet and to exercise to avoid weight gain, which is sometimes a factor in diabetes and a cause of complications, with risks of cardiovascular attack.