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The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has sounded a health alarm after recording over 5,000 diabetes referrals and 2,000 complicated kidney cases in just the first half of 2025.
Hospital officials say the numbers reflect a disturbing trend of lifestyle-related diseases that are stretching the country’s already burdened health system. They have called for urgent preventive measures to curb the rise.
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This leads to elevated blood sugar levels, which, if uncontrolled, can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Major risk factors for diabetes include:
- Unhealthy diets high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed foods.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Obesity and overweight.
- Family history of diabetes.
- Excessive alcohol intake and smoking.
Doctors warn that untreated or poorly managed diabetes can lead to serious complications such as blindness, amputations, heart disease, and kidney failure.
Kidney Disease and Its Causes
Kidney complications, many of which are linked to diabetes and hypertension, are also on the rise. The kidneys filter waste from the blood, but when damaged, they fail to perform this crucial role.
Common causes of kidney disease include:
- Diabetes (the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide).
- High blood pressure.
- Prolonged use of certain painkillers and herbal concoctions.
- Frequent dehydration.
- Excessive alcohol consumption.
- Infections and untreated urinary tract problems.
Call for Lifestyle Change
Health experts at Korle Bu are urging Ghanaians to adopt healthier lifestyles, emphasizing balanced diets, regular exercise, routine medical check-ups, and reduced intake of alcohol, sugar, and salt. They caution that unless people take preventive action, the number of diabetes and kidney-related cases will continue to climb, overwhelming the health system.
The hospital is also calling on the government and stakeholders to intensify public health education campaigns to raise awareness about non-communicable diseases and promote early detection.
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