Diabetes in Malawi has become a silent killer as latest statistics by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has revealed that 540.1 in every 1000 adults between the ages of 20 to 79 years in Malawi are diabetic.

The disease killed at least 2,960 individuals in 2024, according to the latest figures by the IDF.

The report indicates that Malawi spends at least $141.1 on every person with diabetes, with Africa ranked the lowest in diabetes-related expenditure.

The report stresses that 78.7 percent of cases remain undiagnosed. 

It projects that by 2050, close to 1.4 million adults in the country may be affected with the disease.

President of the Diabetes Association of Malawi, Clement Mandala, says the rising cases are due to poor funding towards the fight against the disease, urging government to create a special budget allocation for diabetes.
 
Mandala has then says the shortage of funding is having a huge impact on awareness campaigns on the disease

"It is very unfortunate and it is happening because many people are not concerned. The government should set aside some funds for diabetes as it happens in HIV fight," said Mandala.

"People think they will not be affected with diabetes hence no effort to raise awareness on the disease. We need to be concerned as a country," he added.

Malawi Health Equity Network Executive Director, George Jobe, has echoed the call for more investment, saying increased testing and proper management of patients is critical.

"We need to start with acknowledgment that the desease is affecting a hunge number of people, then we pump in more resources. We have a lot of fizzy drinks that have flooded the markets and people are taking these unregulated drink," said Jobe

"We have had cases of sudden death due to diabetes. We need to enhance testing and management of our colleagues who are diabetic, added Jobe.

Africa’s total diabetes-related spending stands at $10 billion — just one percent of the global total.