By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Tema, Oct. 29, GNA — An estimated 1.4 billion adults worldwide were living with hypertension in 2024, while 589 million adults were living with diabetes, highlighting the growing burden of two chronic conditions that can lead to life-threatening complications when they remain undiagnosed or inadequately managed.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 600 million adults living with hypertension are unaware of their condition, while only about 320 million have their blood pressure under control.
Similarly, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that 252 million adults living with diabetes worldwide are unaware they have the condition, potentially missing opportunities for early treatment and the prevention or delay of serious complications.
Ghana faces a similar challenge.
The 2023 Ghana WHO STEPwise approach to non-communicable disease risk factor surveillance (STEPS) survey found that 21.7 per cent of adults aged 18 to 69 had hypertension, while 5.2 per cent had raised fasting blood glucose. The survey also found that 51.1 per cent of people with hypertension were unaware of their condition
Behind these figures are people whose lives have been profoundly changed by the conditions.
For Naa Dromo, a woman in her mid-40s, a diagnosis of hypertension shattered the hope that she might escape a condition with which she had a family history.
She had experienced recurring swollen feet, lightheadedness, shortness of breath and fatigue. At times, she relied on natural remedies or visited the hospital reluctantly when the symptoms became worse.
Medical monitoring and tests eventually established the diagnosis.
Although her family history meant the possibility was not entirely unexpected, the diagnosis was emotionally difficult to accept.
For Camillus Maalneriba-Tia Sakzeesi, diabetes brought a different and devastating experience. What appeared to be a minor injury to his toe developed into a wound that failed to heal. Subsequent medical investigations revealed diabetes, and he eventually underwent an amputation.
Despite efforts to maintain his health after the procedure, he continued to fear losing his remaining leg. He died in 2025 from diabetes-related complications, according to his family.
Their experiences illustrate different consequences of chronic disease, but both raise an urgent question: how can people identify and manage hypertension and diabetes before they lead to life-changing complications?
Hypertension: the danger of not knowing
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, occurs when the pressure in the blood vessels remains persistently elevated. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, and can also damage the kidneys.
One of its greatest dangers is that a person may feel well despite having high blood pressure.
The WHO warns that uncontrolled hypertension can damage the heart, brain and kidneys. Regular blood pressure measurement is therefore important, including for people who do not feel ill.
Naa’s experience highlights the importance of medical assessment when health concerns arise. Her recurring symptoms prompted her to seek care, but the diagnosis ultimately depended on clinical monitoring and tests.
Her experience should not be taken to mean that swollen feet, fatigue or shortness of breath necessarily indicate hypertension. Such symptoms can have several causes and require appropriate medical assessment.
The 2023 Ghana STEPS survey provides a broader picture of the challenge. Its finding that 51.1 per cent of people with hypertension were unaware of their condition points to a substantial gap in detection.
The WHO’s 2025 hypertension fact sheet estimates that only 23 per cent of adults aged 30 to 79 living with hypertension worldwide have their blood pressure under control.
For Ghana, closing the diagnosis gap requires more than encouraging people to visit hospitals when they feel unwell. Routine blood pressure checks, public education and accessible follow-up care are important parts of prevention.
Dr Michael Tetteh, an herbal physician, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an earlier interaction that regular blood pressure checks were important for detecting and controlling hypertension early, particularly because the condition could initially be asymptomatic.
A screening result, however, is only the beginning. People diagnosed with hypertension need appropriate clinical assessment, prescribed treatment where indicated, regular follow-up and support to maintain healthy habits.
People should also avoid replacing prescribed treatment with unverified remedies or stopping medication without consulting their healthcare providers.
Diabetes: when a small wound becomes a major threat
While hypertension can cause damage without obvious symptoms, diabetes may also remain undiagnosed until complications emerge.
Diabetes is a chronic condition characterised by elevated blood glucose because the body cannot produce enough insulin or use it effectively. Over time, poorly controlled blood glucose can damage nerves and blood vessels, affecting the heart, kidneys, eyes and feet.
For Camillus, the consequences became evident through a wound on his toe that did not heal and led to amputation.
The consequences of an amputation extend beyond the physical loss of a limb. They can affect mobility, independence, employment, family responsibilities and psychological well-being.
Camillus’s fear of losing his remaining leg underscored the uncertainty that can follow such a procedure. His death in 2025 from diabetes-related complications, as reported by his family, adds a further human dimension to the burden of the disease. His individual experience, however, cannot establish how common such outcomes are or whether earlier intervention would necessarily have changed his outcome.
The IDF’s 11th edition of the Diabetes Atlas estimates that 589 million adults aged 20 to 79 were living with diabetes worldwide in 2024. The number is projected to rise to 853 million by 2050 if current trends continue.
For Ghana, the IDF estimates that 317,400 adults were living with diabetes in 2024, representing a prevalence of 2.7 per cent in its country estimates.
This estimate differs from the Ghana STEPS survey’s 5.2 per cent measure of raised fasting blood glucose. The figures are based on different methodologies and definitions and should not be treated as directly comparable estimates of diabetes prevalence.
The survey nevertheless points to the need for stronger screening and follow-up. It found that 3.7 per cent of adults had elevated blood glucose that had not previously been diagnosed.
Identifying elevated blood glucose and ensuring that people who need treatment receive appropriate care can help reduce the risk of serious complications.
Podiatric care: protecting the feet and preserving mobility
One of the serious complications of diabetes is damage to the feet.
Nerve damage can reduce sensation, meaning that a person may not notice a cut, blister or developing ulcer. Poor circulation can also delay healing, increasing the risk of infection and, in severe cases, amputation.
Madam Amanda Mawudoku, a podiatrist specialising in foot and ankle care, emphasised the importance of prevention and regular professional assessment.
“Most amputations are preventable by checking your feet daily, visiting your podiatrist, and wearing proper footwear,” she said.
Podiatric assessment can help identify potential problems, including ulcers, calluses, nerve damage and other complications affecting the feet. Appropriate care may include examining wounds, monitoring foot health and recommending footwear or other measures to reduce pressure on vulnerable areas.
For people living with diabetes, daily foot inspection is important. They should look for cuts, blisters, swelling, discolouration and wounds that are not healing. Any concerning change should prompt timely professional assessment rather than prolonged self-treatment.
Washing and drying the feet carefully, checking between the toes, wearing properly fitting footwear and avoiding walking barefoot where injuries may occur are also useful preventive measures.
People with diabetes should have their feet assessed regularly by an appropriate healthcare professional, with the frequency determined by their individual risk and clinical condition.
Madam Mawudoku’s advice reinforces an important lesson from Camillus’s experience: a seemingly minor foot injury should not be ignored, particularly when diabetes is present or suspected.
Two conditions, overlapping risks
Although hypertension and diabetes are distinct conditions, they can occur in the same person and share important risk factors.
Both can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of cardiovascular and kidney complications. Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, while high blood pressure can further increase the risk of complications in people living with diabetes.
The coexistence of the conditions makes early detection and sustained management particularly important.
For individuals, preventive measures include eating a balanced diet, reducing excessive salt intake, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco, moderating alcohol consumption and attending appropriate health checks.
These measures do not replace medical treatment. People diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes should follow the care plan agreed with their healthcare providers and should not stop prescribed medication or substitute unverified remedies for medical treatment.
For those living with diabetes, monitoring blood glucose and protecting foot health are particularly important. For people with hypertension, regular blood pressure checks and appropriate treatment can reduce the risk of serious complications.
However, responsibility cannot rest solely on individuals. Screening must be linked to accessible diagnostic services, affordable medicines, professional advice and consistent follow-up care.
Healthcare providers can help by identifying people at risk, incorporating appropriate blood pressure and blood glucose checks into routine care, and explaining the importance of treatment adherence.
Public education must also address misconceptions that encourage people to dismiss symptoms, delay seeking care or rely exclusively on unverified remedies.
Turning awareness into action
Ghana’s STEPS survey findings show that the challenge is not simply the presence of hypertension and elevated blood glucose but also the number of people who may not know their health status.
Naa’s experience highlights the importance of diagnosis and continued management, while Camillus’s story draws attention to the serious consequences that diabetes-related foot complications can have on mobility, independence and quality of life.
Their experiences are not a substitute for national evidence, but they give a human face to a public-health challenge that requires sustained attention.
Early detection offers an opportunity for timely treatment and risk reduction. Strengthening screening, improving access to long-term care and making prevention part of everyday health practice are therefore essential steps towards reducing the burden of hypertension and diabetes in Ghana.
The message is clear: knowing one’s health status, seeking medical attention promptly, and remaining engaged in treatment can make a crucial difference to health outcomes.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Email: [email protected]