Over 10million Nigerians Living with Diabetes and Still Counting – Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN).

DIABETES

 Dr. Mohammed Alkali, the National President of Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN, has made a shocking revelation that over 10million Nigerians are currently living with diabetes and still counting.

Dr. Alkali said that almost every home has one person living with the disease, stressing that two-third of the carriers do not know they are suffering from the disease. 

The National President made this disclosure while addressing newsmen at the inauguration of an eight-man member of the board of trustees (BOT) of the association's Katsina State chapter.

Dr. Alkali who is also the Chief Medical Director of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, therefore, gave a strong warning against the continuous consumption of processed foods, fast foods, and sedentary which he emphasized are the major causes of diabetes.

According to the National President, diabetes is the leading non-communicable disease in the world, with over 430million people affected. Although there is no verified national figure for Nigeria, the figure is put at over 10million.

The World Health Organization (WHO) who is much concerned now about type-two diabetes which is about lifestyle and habit has advised people to live an active life. A sedentary lifestyle promotes the development of type-two diabetes. WHO said people no longer engage in activities and also indulge in the consumption of processed foods and fast food. These are the foods that promote type-two diabetes.

Dr. Alkali said, the closer the food is to nature, the better is it for human consumption. This implies that consuming the natural oranges and pineapple in its raw state, for example, is healthier than taking it at its processed form in one can where preservatives and other additives have been added. He solicited for the reintroduction of physical education in schools to make people more active.

The Diabetes Association of Nigeria which is also Nigeria's representative at the International Diabetes Federation is already leading the campaign to educate people and enlighten them on the need to go for screening to know their status.

In the same vein, associate professor Badamasi Lawal, the guest speaker at the event also corroborated Dr. Alkali's claim on the scaring and alarming rate of diabetes making reference to a five years research carried out by the Federal Medical Centre in Katsina State which revealed an increase from 65 patients to about 288 patients from 2012 - 2017.

The associate professor, however, is making a passionate appeal to the Federal Government to partner traditional medicine practices council in Nigeria to produce a genuine medicine to cure diabetes. Besides, free diabetes drugs should also be made available to patients or at a highly subsidized rate.

Alhaji Aminu Mamman D. the BOT chairman assured of their unflinching support, efforts, and commitment to serve in the association.

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