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The alarming increase in the rate of diabetes in Africa should be a major concern to Nigerians. Recently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that over 24 million adults, aged between 20 and 79, suffer this disease in Africa. According to WHO, the number may increase to 60 million by 2050. About 12 million people are said to be undiagnosed. They risk severe complications, disability and premature death.
In a message to mark the 2025 World Diabetes Day in Abuja, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Janabi, said the unprecedented rise in the disease was driven by changing lifestyles, rising overweight and obesity, and limited access to preventive and primary health services.
“Diabetes spares no one. It affects children, adolescents, adults and older people, with each life stage presenting distinct challenges that require tailored responses,” Janabi said. WHO urged African countries to ensure a health system that is resilient, adequately resourced and organized to deliver continuous care from prevention to early diagnosis, effective treatment and life-long support.
Diabetes is a non-communicable disease. One is said to be diabetic when one’s pancreas does not produce enough insulin that regulates blood sugar, or even when it is produced, the body does not efficiently utilize it. There are different types of this disease. They are Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, which is common with children, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. This makes the patient to take insulin almost every day to live because the damage to the pancreas is permanent.
In Type 2 diabetes, the body does not use insulin efficiently, thereby leading to high blood sugar. This accounts for over 90 per cent of the cases. Overweight, sedentary lifestyle or lack of exercise, high consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods, binge drinking, smoking, and genetic factors are some of the causative factors. In Gestational diabetes, the insulin-blocking hormones are produced during pregnancy. Drowsiness or fatigue, frequent urination, blurry vision, excessive thirst and hunger, dry/itchy skin and slow-healing wounds are some of the symptoms.
When not detected early and treated or well managed, diabetes could lead to different complications including blindness, heart attacks, kidney failure, stroke, foot ulcers that may lead to lower limb amputation, and death. In 2016, about 1.6 million people reportedly died of the disease globally, making it the seventh leading cause of death that year. From 108 million in 1980, the number of people suffering diabetes globally rose to 422 million in 2014.
No fewer than 63,958 people reportedly died of diabetes out of about 2.7 million Nigerians living with the disease in 2019. The International Diabetes Federation estimates that the number of people living with diabetes in the world as of 2024 is 589 million. In Africa it is 25 million. In Nigeria, out of a total adult population of over 106 million people, about 2.99 million adults live with the disease with a prevalence of 3.0 per cent.
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) gave a higher figure. According to the group, the yearly death toll from diabetes in Nigeria is 30,000. It added that approximately 11.4 million Nigerians currently live with the disease. Thus, the country has the highest incidence of diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa.
Incidentally, life expectancy is approximately 56.05 years in Nigeria. This is below the global average of about 73.7 years. Unfortunately, the health care system is in a comatose condition. Many public hospitals are ill-equipped. Doctors are frequently on strike. Over 60 per cent of them are estimated to be working in foreign countries. More will migrate abroad if given the opportunity.
All these problems present serious hindrance to the treatment and management of diabetes in Nigeria. Since the disease could be well managed if detected early, Nigerians are advised to always go for periodic medical check-ups, especially for blood sugar and cholesterol levels, cardiovascular and blood pressure examinations. They should immediately seek medical attention if something untoward is discovered. The problem is that not many people are financially stable to afford regular medical checks and treatment. They end up taking herbal concoctions that do more damage to their systems.
Government should help by equipping primary health centres to handle diabetes and other debilitating diseases, as they are closer to the people. It should also subsidise the cost of drugs. Relevant government agencies like the National Orientation Agency should embark on awareness creation to sensitize people about the causes, symptoms and treatment of diabetes.
It is important that people who are predisposed to diabetes should watch what they eat and drink. They should limit their consumption of foods rich in carbohydrate, especially processed foods and sugary beverages. Portion control is very important. Eating balanced diet, especially high-fibre whole foods, and maintaining healthy weight are also very essential.
Regular exercise is important as well. This doesn’t have to be vigorous. Taking a walk instead of driving to short-distant places, or climbing the stairs instead of using the lift can be beneficial. Besides, rather than sit for too long, one can get up at intervals and walk around for a few minutes.
