Why undiagnosed, uncontrolled Diabetes is threatening Kenyans’ lives

Sometimes, feeling completely healthy is the most deceptive symptom of all, convincing millions of hardworking adults across Kenya’s bustling urban streets and quiet suburban neighborhoods to step out every single morning under the false impression that their bodies are in absolute peak condition simply because nothing actively hurts.

Yet beneath this surface sense of physical wellbeing, a quiet epidemic is taking root.

Chronic non-communicable diseases are steadily spreading through communities, leaving countless individuals oblivious to the damage unfolding within their bodies until a sudden, devastating health crisis strikes.

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Most Kenyans have heard of important health measures such as blood pressure and blood sugar, but many are not checking them regularly, according to a new survey. The findings raise concerns that thousands of Kenyans are living with silent diseases such as hypertension and diabetes without knowing it.

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Conducted among 1,100 adults in urban and peri-urban Kenya, the study revealed a striking disconnect: while awareness of common health indicators is remarkably high, routine screening remains worryingly low across demographic lines.

This gap leaves many people at critical risk of late diagnosis for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke. Kenya currently grapples with a growing burden of these chronic illnesses, placing increasing pressure on an already strained national healthcare system. Commissioned by non-profit Doctors for Healthy Living (D4HL) and conducted by Ipsos, the Know Your Numbers Survey highlights how a false sense of security is actively keeping people away from diagnostic clinics.

“One of the biggest challenges in preventive healthcare is that many people believe feeling healthy means they are healthy,” said Dr Robert Mathenge, co-founder of the non-profit. “Yet hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol often develop silently. By the time symptoms appear, opportunities for prevention may already have been lost. Knowing your numbers before illness strikes remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your health.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-communicable diseases account for 75 per cent of deaths globally, with low- and middle-income countries carrying nearly three-quarters of that heavy burden. Global health agencies emphasize that early detection through regular screening is one of the most effective ways to prevent severe complications and premature deaths. Still, the cultural urge to seek medical care only during an acute emergency remains deeply ingrained in everyday public habits.

The Awareness Gap and False Security

The survey found that 90 per cent of respondents knew about blood pressure, making it the best-known health indicator in the country. Blood sugar followed at 78 per cent, Body Mass Index (BMI) at 66 per cent and cholesterol at 63 per cent. However, only one in four respondents had heard of waist circumference, an important measure used to assess the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Knowing about these health indicators did not necessarily translate into meaningful action or routine check-ups.

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While 79 per cent of respondents said they had checked their blood pressure at least once, only 47 per cent had ever tested their blood sugar. Just 15 per cent had ever checked their cholesterol level, while only nine per cent had measured their waist circumference. The picture was worse when participants were asked about tests done within the previous year. Only 38 per cent had tested their blood sugar during that period, 10 per cent had checked their cholesterol and six per cent had measured their waist circumference.

Gender dynamics also play a notable role in healthcare engagement across the nation. The survey found that women were more likely than men to know their health numbers and undergo routine screening, suggesting that men may need more targeted encouragement to seek preventive healthcare. However, one finding stood out above all others in explaining why people avoid diagnostic centers. Nearly three out of four respondents who skipped routine health checks said they did so because they felt healthy.

Among those who had not been screened recently, 72 per cent said they saw no need because they had no symptoms. Another 18 per cent cited lack of time, 12 per cent cited inconvenient clinic hours and 10 per cent said screening was too expensive. Doctors say conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol often develop without warning signs. Many patients only discover they have these diseases after suffering a stroke, heart attack, kidney failure or other serious complications that forever alter their quality of life.

Bringing Screening into Daily Life

WHO recommends regular screening because elevated blood pressure, raised blood sugar, abnormal cholesterol and excess body fat are major risk factors for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. These conditions can often be managed successfully when detected early through simple lifestyle changes and medical treatment. Expanding screening options outside traditional hospital environments offers a promising path forward for public health outreach, bringing diagnostic tools directly into the community.

Although pharmacies are among the health facilities most frequently visited by Kenyans, only 17 per cent of respondents preferred them for routine health screening. Most said they would rather be screened at private hospitals and clinics (80 per cent) or public health facilities (71 per cent). The researchers also identified workplaces as an important setting for routine health checks, noting that employer wellness programmes could help detect disease earlier while reducing sickness-related absenteeism.

“Knowing your numbers should become as routine as servicing your car or renewing your insurance,” said Anthony Mugo, head of partnerships at D4HL. “Preventive healthcare must become part of where people live, work and access everyday services. The easier and more routine we make screening, the greater our chances of detecting disease early and keeping Kenyans healthier.”

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The findings come as Kenya implements its national strategy to tackle non-communicable diseases, which aims to reduce premature deaths from heart disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases through prevention, early diagnosis and better treatment. The strategy recognises cardiovascular diseases and diabetes as among the country’s fastest-growing health challenges. WHO says preventing non-communicable diseases requires reducing common risk factors such as unhealthy diets, tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, while expanding access to screening and treatment through primary healthcare.

Early diagnosis, the agency says, not only saves lives but also reduces healthcare costs by preventing severe complications. Ultimately, the survey highlights a simple message for all Kenyans: knowing about diseases is not enough.

Regularly checking blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, body weight and waist size could help detect potentially life-threatening conditions long before symptoms appear, when treatment is often simpler, cheaper and far more effective.