Four Million Nigerians Have Diabetes Mellitus Type 2-Study Reveals

It has been revealed by a study that more than 4 million Nigerians
have Diabetes type 2.

Over four million Nigerians
are living with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, a chronic
condition that affects
metabolism of glucose in
the body, a study has said.

The study, led by
researchers at the Covenant
University, Ota, noted that
4.7 million Nigerians
between the ages of 20-79
years were living with the condition. The study was
published by the British
Medical Journal

According to the lead
researcher, Dr. Davies
Adeloye, more Nigerians
will be affected by the
condition unless stakeholders put in place effective public health
response and strategies for
higher public awareness. He
also advocated for lifestyle
changes which include
healthy diets and physical activity. The study noted that 40 per
cent of people with type 2
diabetes were undiagnosed,
and that deaths occurred for
one-in- five diabetes
patients admitted to hospital, with complications
from the disease. These
complications can affect the
heart, kidney, brain, eyes,
blood vessels and nerves.

"Over the last 30 years,
type 2 diabetes has
increased by 440 per cent
to 4.7 million cases – or 5.7
per cent of all Nigerians.
This rate is up to three times higher than the
neighbouring countries of
Cote d'Ivoire (2.3 per cent),
Ghana (1.9 per cent), and
Senegal (1.8 per cent).[b] "The last nationwide survey
of non-communicable
diseases in Nigeria was
conducted in 1997. Most
findings reported on type 2
diabetes mellitus in Nigeria since then have been based
on modelled estimates from
neighbouring countries with
relatively more detailed
data on the disease. We
have therefore systematically synthesised
the best evidence on type 2
diabetes mellitus across all
geo-political zones in
Nigeria to guide relevant
evidence-based public health and policy response
in the health sector."

Source:punch