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Ahead of World Diabetes Day (WDD) on November 14, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that an estimated 24.6 million adults aged 20 to 79 years, were living with diabetes in the African Region in 2024. The global health agency said the number could rise to 59.5 million by 2050.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, stated this in a message to commemorate the 2026 WDD. The theme of this year’s WDD: “Early Action on Diabetes,” is therefore significant in accelerating the fight against the disease. No doubt, diabetes is a public health emergency. It advances gradually, often without notice, until the sufferer goes blind, develops kidney failure, heart disease or stroke. It also leads to amputations and premature death.
The Nigerian situation is equally disturbing. The Diabetes Association of Nigeria and other health agencies said an estimated 11.2 million to 11.4 million Nigerians are living with diabetes.
Behind these statistics are families
coping with expensive medications, frequent hospital visits, and deaths. Urgent and decisive action must therefore be taken to address the diabetes challenge.
According to health experts, diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the body fails to produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. This results in alarming high blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps glucose enter the body’s cells to provide energy. When this process fails, excess sugar accumulates in the bloodstream and gradually damages vital organs.
There are different types of diabetes, such as Type 1, Type 2, and the one that occurs in women during pregnancy. But Type 2, said to be the most common, develops when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough of it.
Contributory factors include age, family history and genetics. There is little anyone can do about these. But people can do something about their weight. They can increase physical activity and avoid unhealthy diets high in sugar. They can cut processed foods, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. These and high blood pressure increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to experts.
Common warning signs of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination, constant hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, and slow-healing wounds. There can also be recurrent infections and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. Unfortunately, these symptoms are frequently ignored or mistaken for less serious illnesses. That is why many patients present at hospitals only after developing life-threatening complications.
Uncontrolled diabetes damages blood vessels and nerves throughout the body. It is a leading cause of kidney failure requiring dialysis, preventable blindness, heart attacks, strokes and lower-limb amputations. It also weakens the immune system. Poor awareness compounds the challenge. The International Diabetes Federation said nearly three out of every four adults living with diabetes in Africa remain undiagnosed. This is the highest proportion globally. That is why this year’s emphasis on early action is important.
Diabetes is not a death sentence if detected and managed early. Awareness campaigns should be intensified in schools, markets, workplaces, religious centres and rural communities. Radio and television programmes, social media campaigns and local language information materials should explain the symptoms. It must highlight risk factors and importance of regular blood sugar checks.
People over 40, or those who are overweight should routinely go for screening. So should people with a family history of diabetes. Pregnant women and people with high blood pressure should be screened for diabetes too. Early checks save lives. Primary healthcare centres should be equipped to provide affordable blood glucose testing.
Diabetes can be prevented or delayed by healthy eating, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol consumption and undergoing regular medical check-ups. Sadly, diabetes care faces stark challenges in Nigeria. The huge cost of medicines, insulin, diagnostic tests places effective treatment beyond the reach of many citizens. Rural communities face even more barriers because they lack health facilities, diagnostic equipment, essential medicines and trained personnel.
The migration of skilled healthcare professionals makes matters worse. Many Nigerian hospitals lack sufficient endocrinologists and diabetes specialists. This gap must be bridged through improved remuneration, better working conditions and further on-the-job training programmes. This will help to retain skilled professionals. Government has integrated diabetes services into parts of the primary healthcare system. Some states organise periodic screening exercises and awareness campaigns. These are commendable. But these efforts remain insufficient when measured against the scale of the crisis.
The federal and state governments should increase funding for diabetes prevention and treatment. Health insurance coverage should include comprehensive diabetes care, including insulin, essential medicines, and laboratory tests. Primary healthcare centres (PHCs) should be adequately equipped. Insulin should be produced locally to reduce costs and dependence on imports. World Diabetes Day 2026 should spur the authorities and indeed everyone into action now.
