Khaberni - Dr. Ibtisam Ben Nasif, an endocrinology and diabetes professor at Charles Nicolle Hospital and a member of the Tunisian Association for Endocrinology and Diabetes, has warned about the alarming rise of chronic diseases in Tunisia.
Dr. Ibtisam Ben Nasif emphasized that the numbers have become frightening, placing the country in front of a real health challenge, where the latest figures reveal that one in four Tunisians is diagnosed with diabetes.
The data indicates that diabetes is spreading rapidly, as the 2016 national health study of Tunisians over 15 years old, issued by the National Institute of Health, showed that one in five Tunisians has diabetes.
Moreover, it is even more dangerous that half of those diagnosed were unaware of their condition, making diabetes a "silent disease" that progresses without clear symptoms but is the leading cause of kidney failure and blindness and is associated with higher mortality rates at an early age.
The figures did not stop there; the latest statistics released in 2023 by the Tunisian Association for the Study and Research on Atherosclerosis indicated that the rate has risen, showing that one in four Tunisians is affected by diabetes, reflecting an alarming escalating pattern.
The widespread prevalence of diabetes is attributed to several factors, primarily genetic factors, alongside excessive obesity, lack of physical activity, an unhealthy lifestyle, and the indulgence in foods rich in sugars and fats.
This has reflected in a decrease in the average age of diabetes onset to 40 years, previously around 45 years.
In the context, Dr. Ben Nasif stressed the importance of prevention, considering that weight management is a crucial step as studies show that reducing ten kilograms from weight can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by up to 30%.
She also called for adopting regular physical activity, even if just walking for 30 minutes a day, alongside following a balanced diet that involves eating more whole grains, vegetables, and proteins, and reducing fast-absorbing sugars, sweets, soft drinks, and processed foods.
While the numbers are shocking, they are also a clear call to action before chronic diseases turn into a burden that heavily impacts both individuals and the health system alike.
Blood pressure and obesity are on the rise
Concurrently, other chronic diseases such as hypertension, which affects 28.7% of Tunisians according to a 2016 study, are worsening.
Obesity is also a significant indicator as it affects 26% of adults and extends to 17% of all children in Tunisia, clearly signaling a shift in lifestyle and dietary patterns.
