Nigeria faces a silent diabetes epidemic

DW (English)

As the world marks World Diabetes Day under the theme “Diabetes Across Life Stages,” Nigeria stands at the heart of the crisis. Once seen as an older adult’s disease, diabetes is now striking the young, proving it spares no one. Experts warn that poor awareness, unhealthy diets, and unaffordable care are fueling a silent epidemic.

Transcript

00:00At just 21, Wacharya Mishelia begins every day with insulin.

00:08Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2020, she now lives with complications that make daily life difficult.

00:14So at 16, when I was diagnosed, I didn't really understand, you know, what was going on.

00:18The doctors and nurses explained, but they didn't explain so much.

00:21They just told me to take my medications and I should not get injured.

00:25Her mother ensures she took her medication regularly, but when she left for university,

00:31Wacharya stopped taking it consistently because she felt fine and had no symptoms.

00:35Four years after my diagnosis, I got involved in a serious car accident and I broke my leg.

00:40And for a year now, my leg has not healed due to diabetes.

00:43So I realized that it's a very serious condition.

00:47For Nigerians like Wacharya, managing diabetes often means long hospital visits,

00:52expensive medication, and little government support.

00:55Diabetes can damage the heart, eyes and nerves, and even other organs,

01:00if the blood sugar remains high over time.

01:03The high cost of insulin forces many to stop treatment.

01:07And here in this public clinic, an ongoing doctor strike has yet another barrier,

01:13making regular care even harder to find.

01:16The World Health Organization says more than 24 million adults in Africa are living with diabetes,

01:21a figure expected to rise to 60 million by the year 2050.

01:25Here in Nigeria, more than 11 million people are affected, many without knowing it.

01:30Determined to make a difference, Wacharya now volunteers with the FFB Foundation,

01:36a non-governmental organization based in Abuja.

01:39She participates in medical outreach in underserved communities,

01:42providing free testing and vital health education.

01:45Experts say Nigeria's health system must do more to support patients and promote prevention.

01:50We are seeing diabetes in younger people now, even teenagers.

01:54We need early screening, public education and awareness,

01:59and also access to quality and affordable test kits and insulin.

02:05The Nigerian government says it is scaling up non-communicable disease programs,

02:09with plans to expand diabetes screening, improve access to essential medicine,

02:13and launch nationwide awareness campaigns.

02:17For a trial, living with diabetes is both a burden and a mission.

02:21Our story reflects the struggle of millions and the urgent need to act before this silent killer affect even more lives.

02:28Often lasts for nature and an emergency.

02:32Any other disease makes a course ignorant way forزal性 소� glands.

02:34An point of distress can be found as many diseases.

02:36The cure must find out.

02:37Protects the purpose of riots in an隣s today for instance,

02:38in this stage in siege of industry.

02:41Tanya Masa, ascendентwithal性!

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