Experts decry increasing rate of diabetes

The Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria (EMSON) have raised alarm over increasing cases of diabetes in Nigeria, noting that the country ranks among the highest prevalence rate in Africa.

Attributing the development to the lifestyle and eating habits of most Nigerians, EMSON said that at least five percent of every hundred persons in Nigeria were diabetic.

President of the Society, Prof Feyi Adegote, who stated this in his remarks at EMSON’s 39th Scientific Conference and Annual general meeting in Enugu, observed that millions of cases currently exist in Nigeria due to the kind of lifestyles of the citizenry, calling on the people to be cautious with the kind of foods and quantity of alcohol they consume daily.

He said: “When we talk about challenges, what we are saying is that there are many more to do; many people that are diabetic don’t even know that they are diabetic.  Many who are diabetic don’t know what exercise to do; that there is need for regular blood test, that they have to visit their doctors regularly and whether the drugs they are using are good or whether they will go for insulin.