Addressing Diabetes Management Challenges in Low-Resource Settings: A Review of Strategies and Innovations in Africa

Irakoze Mukamana S.

School of Applied Health Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is increasingly prevalent across Africa, presenting significant challenges in low-resource settings characterized by limited healthcare infrastructure, inadequate medication availability, and low health literacy. This review explores the multifaceted difficulties in managing diabetes in such environments and evaluates innovative strategies designed to address these issues. Key challenges include insufficient healthcare facilities, geographic isolation, high medication costs, and cultural stigmas affecting patient care. The review highlights effective interventions, including community-based approaches involving health workers and peer support, mobile health (mHealth) technologies, and task-shifting strategies to optimize care delivery. Additionally, policy and system-level recommendations are discussed to improve medication affordability and healthcare infrastructure. The methodology employed involved a comprehensive analysis of current literature, case studies, and policy reports to synthesize successful strategies and identify areas for further improvement. The review concludes that while significant hurdles remain, targeted innovations and systemic changes hold promise for enhancing diabetes management in Africa’s low-resource settings.

Keywords: Diabetes, Low-Resource Settings, Community-Based Interventions, Mobile Health, Task-Shifting, Healthcare Infrastructure

CITATION: Irakoze Mukamana S. Addressing Diabetes Management Challenges in Low-Resource Settings: A Review of Strategies and Innovations in Africa. Research Output Journal of Biological and Applied Science, 2024 3(3):45-49.