September 10, 2024
In the chaos of natural or human-made crises such as conflict and war, people affected face myriad challenges to survive. Sometimes, without warning, they are forced to grab what they can and run, only to experience food insecurity, scant shelter and fragmented healthcare systems. People living with a chronic condition like diabetes are particularly vulnerable. They must navigate the hazards of a disaster or conflict while managing a condition that demands constant monitoring and treatment.
Whether natural or human-made, crises often share commonalities and affect people with diabetes similarly. They can happen suddenly and be prolonged with breakdowns in access to basic supplies, shelter, water and food. In parallel, overwhelmed healthcare systems and governments are directing their attention to rescue efforts and treating affected populations, which worsens the situation.
For people with diabetes, essential medicines and supplies, such as insulin, oral medication and test strips for self-monitoring, can suddenly become unavailable or inaccessible. This can result in having to ration or change medication, which can impact diabetes management. Similarly, the disruptions caused by a crisis affect the ability of healthcare professionals to test for and diagnose diabetes and provide care for their patients with the condition.
Even when aid is available, we have seen a new form of warfare emerge in conflict zones with the weaponisation of healthcare and medical supplies. This practice was first brought to light in the Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, and has also been witnessed in the Tigray region of Ethiopia and, most recently, in Gaza.