…As National Eye Centre offers free tests to 200 residents in Kaduna
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
As the World Marks World Diabetes Day with the theme “Access to Diabetes Care”, at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, a medical experts said about 6 million Nigerians are currently suffering from Diabetes, adding that there are other 8 million Nigerians who are on prediabetes level.
This was even as the Eye Centre on Tuesday offered free test to 200 Kaduna residents on diabetes.
Speaking during a lecture on World Diabetics Day at the National Eye Centre Kaduna, Dr. Shehu Abdulrahman , a Chief Consultant Chemical Pathologist and Metabolic Physician said Researches shows that in every 1000 Nigerians, 36 Nigerians have Diabetes.
According to Abdulrahman “6 million Nigerians currently suffering from Diabetics. There is another 8 million on prediabetes level. Partnership with media will help information sharing and education and multiplicity of information will help.
“Experts had estimated the prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria to be 4.3 per cent and it was largely attributed to lifestyle changes caused by urbanisation and its results. These include industries producing unhealthy diets, including sugar-sweetened drinks, lack of exercise, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol.
“Lack of education for those living with all types of diabetes, and access to affordable treatment, including insulin, has been affecting the management of the disease in the country.”
Also speaking Dr. Paul Unung maintained that Diabetes is a silent killer and one of the leading causes of death globally.
“It is a chronic condition brought about by either insufficient insulin (hormone regulating blood sugar levels) production by the pancreas, or inefficient insulin utilisation by the body. Uncontrolled diabetes results in high blood sugar, which over time seriously harms many different body systems.
“Diabetes is not only closely associated with high blood pressure, obesity and hereditary, its complications also include damage to the brain, heart, kidney and limbs. It exposes its victim to blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation,” he said.
