Stéphane Besançon

In developing countries, in addition to the continuing problem of undernutrition, there are now major issues linked to overnutrition and associated illnesses. Nutritional policies must take into account this double burden of malnutrition.

On 11 January 1922, Leonard Thompson, a young 14 year-old diabetic, was the first patient in history to be injected with insulin to treat his type 1 diabetes. While this discovery will soon be celebrating its 100^th anniversary, the hope it has generated is proving slow in materializing in a number of areas in the world, first and foremost in Africa. Despite the fact that needs are constantly increasing on the continent, access to insulin continues to be a privilege, a luxury that very few patients can afford.

5.7% of the adult population in Africa is now affected by diabetes. This disease causes 5.1 million deaths around the world, i.e. 6.8% of annual global mortality. The international community needs to take urgent action.