Diabetes in the Gaza Strip is no longer just a chronic disease that can be managed with regular medical follow-up and available treatment. It has become a daily battle for tens of thousands of patients to survive, amidst a severe shortage of insulin, testing equipment, and laboratory strips, and the continued deterioration of the health and humanitarian situation as a result of the Israeli blockade and the ongoing war and its repercussions.
Doctors and health officials warn that the escalating crisis threatens the lives of thousands of patients, especially children with type 1 diabetes who are entirely dependent on insulin to stay alive. There are fears of a rise in serious complications, comas, and deaths if the current crisis continues.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza has repeatedly confirmed that the shortage of medicines and medical supplies has reached critical levels, noting that the lack of insulin injections is exacerbating the suffering of approximately 11,000 diabetic patients who rely on regular treatment. The Ministry also warned of the depletion of hundreds of essential medications in hospitals and health centers. In a previous report, the ministry warned that between 70,000 and 80,000 diabetic patients in the Gaza Strip face increasing health risks as a result of the severe shortage of insulin and blood glucose test strips, the decline in medical services, and malnutrition.
