Angela Onwuzoo
Leading medical practitioners have raised the alarm over what they described as a catastrophic rise in the number of people living with diabetes mellitus in Nigeria, lamenting that the number has risen to 22m.
The experts revealed that half of the 22m (11m)Nigerians living with diabetes are unaware that they have the killer disease, warning that the number may double by 2045 if urgent measures are not taken to address the trend.
The physicians noted that already, no fewer than 20m Nigerians are with prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar is high and could likely become Type 2 diabetes if there is no intervention.
They expressed concern that just a fraction is receiving proper care and treatment among those diagnosed with diabetes.
In an interview with PUNCH Healthwise, the senior physicians said it would cost Nigeria at least a trillion naira to provide treatment to poor Nigerians living with the chronic disease, which so far, has no cure but can be treated when detected early.
According to them, diabetes is the most common cause of limb amputation, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, blindness and cancer, and expressed concern that teenagers are developing diabetes and are at greater risk of coming down with the listed complications.
The fact that people with diabetes, are at higher risk of developing and dying from other major diseases was also of major concern to the experts.
The Medical Director, Duchess International Hospital Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Doyin Dosunmu-Ogunbi, who disclosed the frightening diabetes figures, called for collective efforts of relevant stakeholders and the government to prevent the degenerative disease.
He said,” Million of Nigerians have diabetes and half or more don’t even know that they have the disease. We are faced with a slow-moving catastrophe in Nigeria.
“We know that we have 11m Nigerians living with diabetes. But we also know that probably at least 11 more million people, in addition, have diabetes that has not been diagnosed.
“We believe that 22 million Nigerians have diabetes. We also know that there are about 20m Nigerians with prediabetes, which is borderline diabetes. It would cost us at least a trillion naira to provide treatment to poor Nigerians presently with diabetes, talk less of when (as expected) the numbers rise much further.
“Our national budget (for this year is 1.7tn) would be overwhelmed. So we have to aggressively prevent this disease in the population through diet, exercise and screening. We are having more cases of diabetes because we are not as active as our forefathers were. We should get checked every year.”
The medical director noted that many Nigerians are unaware that they have diabetes because they do not have symptoms and stressed the importance of embracing regular health checks.
“For many years, there will be no symptoms; it is only later that they may start having symptoms like drinking too much water and urinating frequently. But they may have no symptoms, which is why it is important to go for health checks. It is important to know that limb amputation, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and blindness are serious complications of diabetes. We should all get our yearly checkups, especially after age 30,” he advised.
Dr. Dosunmu-Ogunbi urged Nigerians to shun a sedentary lifestyle, be more active and embrace a healthy diet.
Head of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Department of Medicine in the College of Medicine University of Lagos and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Professor Femi Fasanmade, attributed the rise in diabetes cases to changes in dietary habits and other aspects of westernization.
He said obesity and diabetes also increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, blindness and cancer.
Prof. Fasanmade noted that diabetes places an extra burden on individuals and families affected, especially for the majority of patients who are unable to access quality health care.
The endocrinologist said the major challenge with diabetes, especially in Nigeria was that many patients report late to the hospital when the disease has advanced, making treatment and care difficult.
He said, “Diabetes prevalence will at least double by 2045 in sub-Saharan Africa, taking those affected from 25 million now to about 50 to 55 million.
“Prevalence in Nigeria is going to also double in the same period due to rising population, ageing population, changes in dietary habits and other aspects of westernization.”
To address the situation, he recommended increased physical activity, weight loss, a healthy diet and regular checkups for early detection.
In a recent study, it was projected that the number of people living with diabetes worldwide will soar to 1.3 billion by 205O.
The researchers in their findings published in the Lancet and Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology journal, said diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide and attributed it primarily to a rise in obesity caused by multiple factors.
The researchers also revealed that the global obesity burden was driven by structural racism and gaping inequality between countries.
They analysed and synthesized all available epidemiological data on diabetes burden, which include over 27,000 data sources that produced estimates of diabetes prevalence, disability, and deaths for 204 countries and territories from 1990 through 2021.
The team also estimated the proportion of diabetes disability and death attributable to specific risk factors related to obesity, diet, physical activity, environment, occupation, tobacco and alcohol use.
The team projected that every country will experience an increase in diabetes cases by 2050.
The researchers, however, noted that Type 2 diabetes, which makes up the bulk of diabetes cases, is largely preventable and, in some cases, potentially reversible if identified and managed early in the disease course.
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