Global diabetes expert cautions Africa on pandemic & outlines prevention

A staggering 300 million people worldwide have diabetes -- a figure expected to rise to 438 million in 20 years with Africa set for the highest incidence of growth during this period.

These latest statistics from the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organisation will be presented by one of Europe's leading holistic practitioners on diabetes and cholesterol, Dr Geert Verhelst, during an SA seminar and media tour in August 2011.

Dr Verhelst will also reveal the results of recent studies which show a direct association between sugar and diabetes. Until recently, the medical world did not strongly connect the use of sugar with the development of diabetes type 2.

In South Africa, Dr Verhelst will present to the health industry and the public on the latest research into, and holistic preventative measures for diabetes, Syndrome X and high cholesterol.

Belgium-based Dr Verhelst is in demand in Europe for his holistic approach to preventing and treating diabetes and high cholesterol levels. He is a trained physician, having qualified as an MD in 1984, a medical homeopath and an author. His most prominent work is the acclaimed Dutch "Groot Handbook Geneeskrachtige Planten”, widely regarded as the authority on medicinal plants in parts of Europe.

Dr Verhelst is also a sought after scientific consultant in the development, legislation and registration of food supplements based on medicinal plants and nutrients. He is a medical journalist for several European periodicals, and lectures in Phytotherapy at the Levensschool in Tongerlo, Belgium.

His presentations in South Africa will focus on:
Diabetes – a wakeup call for the world in general and Africa in particular
Worldwide, approximately 300 million people have diabetes (285 million in 2010) with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) predicting that by 2030 this number will rise to 438 million.
The IDF predicts the greatest increase will be in Africa (27% growth, pushing predictions to over 20 million people living with diabetes in 2030) and the Eastern Mediterranean (25%).
The foundation predicts that within 16 years, the incidence of diabetes diagnosis will equal current rates of HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa.
The World Health Organisation also predicts that Africa will show the highest growth in diabetes worldwide.
Sugar: the key role player
Until recently, the medical world did not strongly connect the use of sugar with the development of diabetes type 2. Now, studies show a direct association between the intake of fructose and insulin resistance, the stage before diabetes type 2. Refined sugar, or sucrose, consists of 50% fructose

and 50% glucose. Refined sugar used in many softdrinks (high fructose corn syrup 55) comprises 55% fructose and 42% glucose. So, in a good diabetes diet, sugar and other refined sources of fructose (not fruit) should be avoided.
The growing importance of HbA1C (glycosylated hemoglobin).
Most health professionals only look at blood glucose levels to evaluate diabetes. While blood glucose is a momentary look at sugar levels (and is directly influenced by meals, stress, exertion, etc, glycosylated hemoglobin or HbA1C is an indicator of the average blood sugar concentrations over previous months and provides a better indication of how diabetes is being managed.
This test method is increasingly proving to be an important co-factor in the evaluation and treatment of diabetes. All the measures taken in case of diabetes (diet, weight loss, medication, food supplements, etc) should lead to a lower HbA1C.
Dr Verhelst will also highlight how Cinnamon can help decrease HbA1C

Although there are no official figures, it is estimated that a staggering 5 to 6 million South Africans suffer from diabetes. Between 5 – 10% of these have type 1 diabetes which is characterized by an almost total lack of insulin production required by the body to use glucose found in food.

Between 90 – 95% of South African diabetes sufferers have type 2 diabetes and most are undiagnosed (astonishingly, only 8 000 of these estimated 6.5 million are registered with Diabetes SA).

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by low insulin production, often resulting in weight gain and sometimes leading to heart attack, kidney failure, impotence, blindness and amputation.
Although there are no official figures, high levels of oxidized (bad) cholesterol is also a major problem among adult South Africans, contributing to high levels of heart disease.

Dr Verhelst’s presentations will outline the latest in natural approaches to treating diabetes and high cholesterol and will detail steps to help prevent diabetes and high cholesterol.

Dr Verhelst is being hosted in the country from August 1 to 10 by OTC Pharma SA which produces a range of health products, including the water-based cinnamon extract Diabecinn range for type 2 diabetics.

For further info, call Candice on 021 685 8093 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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