By Zuko Komisa
- Diabetes has surpassed HIV and TB to become South Africa’s leading cause of death, accounting for nearly 28,000 lives in 2023.
- Unhealthy food environments, poor diets, and limited screening mean millions live with severe non-communicable conditions unnoticed.
- Severe staffing shortages leave public healthcare workers with little time for preventive screening before conditions become fatal.
Diabetes mellitus has officially become the leading natural cause of death in South Africa, marking a significant shift in the nation’s public health landscape.
According to the latest mortality data from Stats SA, diabetes accounted for 27,692 deaths (5.8% of all recorded deaths) in 2023, surpassing both tuberculosis and HIV.
Cerebrovascular diseases, including strokes, and hypertensive illnesses followed closely behind.
Health experts warn that poor diets, unhealthy food environments, and a lack of regular health checks are driving this preventable crisis.
The drop in infectious disease fatalities, combined with rising rates of non-communicable diseases, highlights an urgent need for earlier intervention and lifestyle support long before patients require hospitalisation.
A critical hurdle in combating the disease is the lack of preventive screening, which leaves many individuals unaware of their condition.
Addressing South Africa’s growing diabetes epidemic will require a dual approach: alleviating pressure on understaffed public health facilities and creating environments that encourage healthier diets and regular health monitoring.
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