The World Diabetes Day, observed annually on November 14, serves as a global platform to raise awareness about the prevalence of diabetes, its impact, and to impart knowledge on lifestyle habits that can help mitigate its occurrence. Designated an official United Nations day in 2006, World Diabetes Day originated in 1991 through the efforts of the International Diabetes Federation, supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
In Nigeria, the WHO estimates the incidence of diabetes at 4.3 percent, with lifestyle changes induced by urbanisation identified as a primary driver. The disease is closely associated with industries that produce unhealthy diets, sugar-sweetened beverages, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and insufficient physical activity. Diabetes, a non-communicable disease, manifests as an elevated level of glucose due to either insufficient insulin supply (Type 1 diabetes) or the inability to use insulin effectively (Type 2 diabetes). While the exact cause of Type 1 diabetes remains unknown, genetics and environmental factors, such as viral exposure, are considered probable triggers. Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is predominantly linked to unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Diabetes serves as a risk factor for various health conditions, including cancer, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and impotence. In Nigeria, the prevalence of diabetes is notably high, ranking among the highest in Africa. The global projection suggests that by 2030, over 500 million adults worldwide will be affected by diabetes.
Dr. Livinus Abonyi, a Medical Imaging Scientist heading the Department of Radiography at the University of Lagos, attributes the rise in diabetes cases to urbanisation and an aging population. He notes that diabetes tends to increase with age, often accompanying a decline in lean body mass and an increase in body fat, particularly visceral adiposity (overweight), which contributes to insulin resistance. Abonyi emphasises that diabetes prevalence remains lower in rural areas compared to urban communities, attributing this difference to the sophisticated lifestyle prevalent in urban settings. Furthermore, Abonyi identifies hereditary factors in diabetes and points to corruption, greed, and insufficient regulation as major contributors to the disease burden in Nigeria. He highlights the impact of corruption on regulatory agencies, hindering their efficacy, while individuals involved in producing substandard products are driven by greed.
He said producers of substandard products did not have conscience, love or regards for the effect the products might have on their fellow citizens that fell victim to their inordinate quest for wealth. “No sane nation leaves her citizens to consume all kinds of food and drug products without effective regulation. In Nigeria, all kinds of drinks, noodles and food products are in circulation and freely consumed by the citizens without proper quality assurance and approval for consumption. Aside the hereditary nature of diabetes, self-medication is another factor that is promoting high incidence of diabetes in Nigeria; there is a wide pervading attitude of self-medication in Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, an average Nigerian prescribes one type of drug or the other to the next neighbour, colleague or relation who complains of any illness, without proper investigation or diagnosis. “The effect of this attitude applies to even to fetuses, growing children and adults. No doubt, this attitude affects major organs of the body which helps the body in carrying out its metabolic functions effectively. These organs begin to fail early in life leading to diabetes,” Abonyi said.
The medical imaging scientist further lamented that many Nigerian citizens were reckless in their eating habit in the bid to demonstrate affluence and class. According to him, their nutritional habit is based on personal want instead of personal need. “Many Nigerians eat wrongly. They eat whatever they like in quantity and quality without recourse to the long-time health implications. People eat as a ‘status symbol.’ This attitude accounts for high incidence of childhood obesity among the children of the rich and middle class in Nigeria,” Abonyi added.
On the remedial measures in curbing the incidence of diabetes among the Nigerian population, Abonyi advised that the Nigerian leadership and the citizens had to do away with corruption. He said genuine declaration of war against corruption has to be instituted and exemplarily demonstrated by government leaders. This, he said, would go a long way to strengthen regulations, build trust in the system and reduce criminality of production or importation of fake substandard goods. Abonyi also said efforts should be made by the government agencies, non-governmental bodies, public health experts, health care practitioners, associations and the media in educating citizens on the best nutritional habits and practices.
“Corruption kills citizens if the citizens do not t kill corruption in their system. Citizens should learn to surrender themselves to experts in registered hospitals when sick. In order to make this practicable, the current National Health Insurance Act should come into full operation; this act has made health insurance compulsory for everyone,” Abonyi said.
On her part, Dr Bolanle Okunowo, an Endocrinologist with the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), urged Nigerians to cultivate healthy eating habit. Okunowo, also a consultant physician, said people should reduce the intake of refined diet and increase the intake of diet high in fiber. According to her, there is also need to reduce high caloric diet which can lead to obesity causing insulin resistance. The endocrinologist stressed the need for regular medical checkup, saying that if a routine checkup showed prediabetes, it could be reverted to normal glucose with the help of good medical advice and treatment. “Exercise regularly and avoid sedentary lifestyle. Avoid smoking and reduce or avoid alcohol use including energy drinks,” Okunowo said.
