12m Nigerians infected with diabetes – Commissioner

Kano state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, has said that 12 million Nigerians were infected with diabetes and that the state government had commenced activities in order to reduce its prevalence.
Speaking to newsmen in his office, he said the state government had introduced the KwanKwasiyya Ambulance Outreach programme for screening, treatment, referral and health education.
The commissioner, who spoke through the permanent secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Musa Dahiru, however, stated that the risk of developing type 2 diabetes can be reduced by up to 60 per cent by maintaining a healthy weight and imbibing a healthy eating plan.

He said: “According to the International Diabetes Federation, 382 million people aged 20 – 79 years had diabetes mellitus globally. The figure is projected to increase to 592 million by 2035. The developing country is the worst hit by this epidemic with an anticipated 170 per cent increase.”

“The national prevalence of diabetes mellitus is put about 5 – 7 per cent and this will be on the increase.  Approximately eight – 12 million people are living with diabetes in Nigeria.”
The commissioner further revealed that diabetes was a condition that “cannot be ignored and that many people within the community have diabetes without knowing it,” saying that “it has been estimated that for every diagnosed case of type 2 diabetes there is another that goes undiagnosed and untreated.”

While calling on the general public to assist diabetic patients, the commissioner also commended the Kano state government on the ongoing construction of health facilities in strategic areas of Kano state which had resulted in improved management of patients in various hospitals.