Abeokuta: By, Sina ODUNTAN
Published, Sunday, November 14, 2021
A CONSULTANT DIABETOLOGIST with the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to make insulin which is a major treatment for diabetes available free of charge to people living with diabetes 1 and 2.
Dr Olubiyi Adesina (pictured above), Chief Consultant Diabetologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta and the Chairman, Diabetes Association of Nigeria (D.A.N), Ogun State Chapter made this plead in a virtual interactive meet with members of the Independent Newspapers Association of Nigeria, iNAN in Abeokuta, Saturday to mark 2021 World Diabetes Day.
World Diabetes Day is marked on November 14 every year to commemorate the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting who discovered insulin along with Charles Best 100 years ago (1922), and raise awareness on diabetes.
United Nations General Assembly in 2007 designated November 14 of every year World Diabetes Day by Resolution 61/225. However, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) with support of World Health Organisation (WHO) had earlier marked Diabetes Day since 1991.
The theme, "Access to Diabetes Care" would run from 2021 - 2023.
Diabetologist Adesina says that the theme is pertinent because despite 100 years after the discovery of insulin - the most effective treatment for diabetes - by Banting and Best in Toronto, Canada, insulin is still not widely and freely available to millions of people who need it, especially in Nigeria.
Nigeria has a high burden of diabetes with 2.4% of the population (about 4 million Nigerians) living with diabetes.
Dr Adesina, the Ogun State Chairman of Diabetes Association of Nigeria further explained that "access to care means the availability and the affordability of care. "In some instances in Nigeria, insulin may not be available, and in some instances when available it cannot be afforded by those who require it that have no health insurance and have to pay out of pocket for this insulin."
The Consultant Diabetologist said an average person with diabetes on insulin would need about N20, 000 per month to buy this medication.
He said, "Now is the time for both State and Federal Governments to do something about the accessibility of Nigerians with diabetes to Insulin and follow the path of Cameroon and Egypt who have solved this problem for their people living with diabetes."
In 2019, for example, Egypt obtained the French high quality raw material to produce locally insulin and made it available free to its population living with diabetes.
Dr Adesina said people living with diabetes in Nigeria have found it difficult in the past and now to access diabetes care.
"The vast majority of those living with diabetes that I see are elderly retirees with a pension that cannot support diabetes care.
"Elsewhere in the world (Europe and the Americas) insulin is widely available to people living with diabetes through health insurance.
"More modern, safe and efficacious types of insulin called insulin analogs are even available to them compared to the older versions of insulin (called human insulin) which is the more available type in Nigeria, which though cheaper than the more modern ones is still unaffordable to the vast majority of Nigerians living with diabetes," the Diabetologist Consultant exasperated.
Diabetes, according to the Chairman, Diabetes Association of Nigeria, occurs when an hormone called insulin which is produced by an organ in the human abdomen called pancreas is either no longer produced, Type 1 Diabetes, or it is no longer effective, Type 2 diabetes.
"Insulin is released whenever we eat to ensure that the glucose (sugar) released from the ingested meal is kept under control.
"When insulin is unavailable or ineffective, the blood sugar level rises leading to symptoms such as excessive urination, excessive thirst, and excessive hunger pangs/eating, weight loss, blurring of the vision, non-healing wounds especially on the feet, poor erection of the penis in males, frequent pregnancy miscarriages in females."
The Diabetologist said diabetes is either caused by heredity (familial causes) that tends to run in families or caused by excessive weight/obesity, sedentary life style (sitting too long in one position), consumption of a more westernized diet rich in pastries as opposed to the traditional African diet rich in fruit and vegetables, excessive alcohol consumption which damages the pancreas.
Diabetes can also occur as a sequel of treatment of hypertension with drugs called thiazides in high doses, and as a consequence of abuse of steroid drugs like prednisolone which is now being seen increasingly in Nigeria.
Diabetes may also be seen for the first time during pregnancy which is referred to as Gestational diabetes which leads to increased maternal and child mortality if not quickly recognised and treated.
Dr Olubiyi Adesina, Chairman, Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), says to prevent the occurrence of diabetes mellitus people should take the following steps: maintain an healthy weight/avoid obesity, consume a diet high in fruits, vegetables, nuts and avoid energy dense foods like pastries and sugar sweetened drinks. Water is the best drink to take.
He also recommends regular exercise and reduce sedentary lifestyle (sitting too long). Exercise at least thirty minutes daily.
He said alcohol should be taken in moderation: not more than one bottle a day of regular beer for males and half a bottle for females. Blood sugar checks at least once a year for early detection of abnormal levels.
He finally posited that a century after its discovery, insulin and other fundamental components of diabetes care, which remain beyond the reach of many Nigerians who need them, must be accessible, and ensure insulin reaches the people who need it, urging government to stop unnecessary deaths emerging from lack or inaccessibility of diabetes care.
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