An estimated 3.8 million Nigerians between the ages of 20-79 years are living with diabetes, according to figures from the 7th edition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diabetes atlas report.
Perhaps more disturbing revelation from the report is that more than two-thirds of Nigerians with diabetes are unaware and undiagnosed.
With these figure, early detection and consistent treatment of this non-communicable disease that affects both the young and the old are very key to determining how diabetics could handle their health condition.
It is one of those silent medical conditions that can hardly be seen on the face.
Be it type-one diabetes in which the body does not produce insulin; type-two, whereby the body produces insulin but is not enough or gestational diabetes which affects some women during pregnancy, it is all about too much glucose in the blood.
Explaining the types, Dr. Jacob Nwachukwu, said: “Type-one diabetes, which starts early in childhood and arising from destruction of pancreas, an organ that secrets insulin is damaged early in childhood and the person depends on insulin for life. That one, previously, was called insulin dependent diabetes but the one that affects adults is triggered by a number of lifestyle measures like somebody being overweight, lack of exercise, sedentary lifestyle.
People At Risk
According to him, the danger is that early in the disease, you feel nothing.
“That is why it is called a silent killer, because it will be in the body for five to 10 years, causing subtle damage which will accumulate eventually to start to give the symptoms,” Dr Nwachukwu.
A consultant endocrinologist, Rita Isiavwe, explaining the risks, said: “When we talk about risks, we talk about modifiable risk factors and non-modifiable risk factors. You can’t do anything about your family history, you can’t do anything about your age because as you get older, the prevalence increases. But you can do something about your weight, you can do something about exercising and then, we also notice that people who have high blood pressure and raised cholesterol are also at an increased risk of having diabetes”.
There are signs that you don’t want to experience before you get screened for diabetes. Both type-one and type-two diabetes have similar symptoms which if left unattended to can result in some complications. These signs are increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, slow-healing sores and high blood pressure.
“Talking about complications of diabetes, the complications of diabetes affect every organ, every system. From the head to the brain. From stroke to blindness, cataract to heart problem to kidney failure to peripheral vascular disease to amputations. They are all important but much more important is the foot ulcers and diabetes related amputations which are largely preventable. Up to 85% of amputations are preventable by adopting healthy foot care practice and being watchful,” Dr Isiavwe explained.
Prevention Is Cheaper
Individually tailored treatment remains the lifeline for people living with diabetes, but the cost is a challenge, a more reason it is sometimes referred to as a condition for the rich.
According to a publisher and editor, Nigeria Health Online, Mr Sam Eferaro, said oral medication are so expensive, with an insulin costing over 6,000 Naira.
“Some may need about three in a month. It depends on how you are able to control your blood sugar and your condition. Unfortunately, not many Nigerians are on insulin right now and it is because the cost is high. So, if we must control cardiovascular disease like diabetes, then government must begin to think of a measure to bring down the cost of drugs,” Mr Eferaro emphasised.
On what the government is doing to reduce the cost of treatment, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, said the government could do a lot, through subsidisation of the cost, asking diabetics to go for health insurance.
“The government is actually helping them through health insurance and there are quite a number of things. But much more important is the fact that we need to prevent diabetes. I think that is cheaper,” the minister pointed out.
It is said that prevention is certainly better than cure. While risk factors such as genetics and age are not adjustable, healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of type-two diabetes.
Also, blood sugar levels should be regularly checked so that any trace of diabetes can be detected and for early management of the condition to begin.
Ensure you find out your blood sugar level and live a healthy lifestyle.