The data on the number of diabetes cases that go undiagnosed in Ghana is ballooning each year. Diabetes in Ghana is a hidden crisis. Many adults walk through life unaware that their blood sugar is dangerously high. Estimates show that nearly six out of ten adults with Type 2 diabetes in Africa don’t know they have it. This delay in diagnosis allows the disease to advance silently, leaving serious complications like vision loss and kidney disease waiting in the wings.
Recent studies in Ghana reveal how deep this problem runs. In the Cape Coast Metropolis, around 3.8% of adults had diabetes, and 14.2% had prediabetes—all among people who believed they were healthy. Women showed higher prevalence than men, and rural residents faced the greatest burden. These numbers expose gaps in awareness, screening, and access to care.
The causes of undiagnosed diabetes are complex. Direct factors include high body mass index, elevated triglycerides, high blood pressure, liver function changes, and being female. Indirect factors amplify these risks. Childhood overweight, family history, low physical activity, socioeconomic status, and even occupation influence who develops the disease. These factors form a tangled web, making it easy for diabetes to progress unnoticed.
Screening for diabetes is uneven across Ghana. Studies in Accra, Tamale, and Wa found that over 70% of respondents had never been screened. Mass media campaigns increase awareness and motivate action. People exposed to TV campaigns were nearly twice as likely to get screened, and social media exposure also improved screening rates. Combining platforms improved odds even further. Yet geographic and economic barriers remain strong. Low-income communities, despite seeing messages, still lack access to testing and counselling.
Public health solutions must reach beyond awareness. Free and accessible screening programs can bridge the gap. Healthcare workers in trusted local networks, including religious institutions, can educate communities effectively. Targeted strategies addressing childhood obesity, physical activity, and clinical risk factors like blood pressure and lipids are essential. Research must continue, generating clear, local data to guide interventions.
For individuals, early detection matters. Nuffield Clinic offers comprehensive screening, diagnosis, and follow-up care for diabetes. Experts help manage blood sugar, prevent complications, and support lifestyle changes that protect long-term health.
Undiagnosed diabetes waits silently. Screening and timely care can change its course. Awareness alone will not protect you. Action, access, and expert guidance make the difference.ood sugar problems never feel sick, yet the brain already feels the strain. Long-term exposure to unstable glucose damages blood vessels, nerve cells, and the systems that keep the brain energised.
People who develop diabetes at a younger age face higher cognitive risk later. Those living with diabetes for more than ten years show higher rates of mild cognitive impairment. Eye disease, nerve damage, and insulin dependence often signal deeper effects on the brain.
What high blood sugar does to the brain
The brain uses a large share of the body’s glucose. It relies on healthy blood flow and efficient insulin signalling. Diabetes disrupts both.
Small blood vessels in the brain stiffen and narrow over time. Oxygen delivery drops. Brain cells struggle and slowly die. This process drives vascular dementia and worsens other forms of cognitive decline.
A protein called amylin can build up in the brain’s blood vessels in people with Type 2 diabetes. These deposits block nutrient flow and trigger inflammation. This damage can appear even without classic Alzheimer’s plaques.
Insulin resistance also affects nerve cells. Neurons lose the ability to use glucose well. Energy production falls. Memory centres such as the hippocampus suffer the most.
High glucose levels harm brain cells directly. Low glucose levels starve them. Rapid sugar swings activate inflammation and oxidative stress. The blood–brain barrier weakens. Communication between neurons slows.
Over time, these changes show up as forgetfulness, slower thinking, mood changes, and poor concentration.
From subtle changes to dementia
Cognitive decline linked to diabetes often begins as mild cognitive impairment. Daily tasks still happen, yet memory and reasoning feel less reliable. This stage raises the risk of dementia in later years.
Vascular dementia develops when blood flow to the brain remains compromised. Diabetes plays a direct role. Alzheimer’s disease risk also rises, driven by inflammation, vascular damage, and disrupted metabolism.
Mental health changes appear as well. Depression and emotional instability occur more often in people with diabetes. Brain chemistry and blood sugar regulation stay closely connected.
Protecting brain health starts with glucose control
Brain health depends on metabolic health. Stable blood sugar protects neurons and blood vessels over time. Action taken early makes a real difference.
Regular blood tests matter. Fasting glucose and HbA1c reveal long-term patterns. Fasting insulin levels can uncover insulin resistance early. Continuous glucose monitors offer real-time insight into how food, sleep, stress, and movement affect sugar levels.
Food choices shape brain outcomes. Diets built around vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean protein support steady glucose levels. Mediterranean and MIND-style eating patterns show strong protection against both diabetes and cognitive decline. Refined sugars and processed carbohydrates work against the brain.
Movement acts as medicine. Aerobic activity improves blood flow to the brain. Strength training pulls glucose out of the bloodstream and into muscle where it belongs. Consistency matters more than intensity.
Stress pushes blood sugar higher. Chronic tension keeps the brain in a harmful state. Calm routines, breathing exercises, time outdoors, and mental health support reduce this load.
Sleep restores both brain and metabolism. Seven to eight hours of quality sleep supports insulin sensitivity and memory formation. Poor sleep or untreated sleep apnea increases dementia risk.
When to seek expert care
Cognitive symptoms deserve medical attention, especially in people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Early assessment helps slow progression and protect independence.
At Nuffield Clinic / HUMAN, care focuses on the whole person. Blood sugar control, cardiovascular health, neurological screening, and lifestyle guidance work together. This integrated approach supports brain health today and lowers future risk.
Diabetes does not have to define cognitive ageing. Awareness, early action, and expert care change the trajectory. The brain responds when blood sugar finds balance.
