4I5 millIion people are living with diabetes in the world – CMD

The National President of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), Dr Mohammed Alkali, who is also the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) has disclosed that about 415 million people are living with diabetes across the world.

The CMD added that the ailment has assumed a global epidemic position, saying that it is regrettable that diabetes has remained the dominant non-communicable disease that constitutes a major health challenge particularly in developing countries.

Alkali stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi on Friday as part of DAN’s preparation to celebrate the World Diabetes Day (WDD) on November 14, 2017 in Abuja

He said, “In the year 2015, there were about 415 million people living with diabetes (PLWD) which is projected to reach 642 million by 2040. More than 14 million people in the sub-saharan Africa had diabetes in 2015 and are projected to double by 2040. Although there is no current National prevalence survey in Nigeria, a prevalence of 2.8% was reported in 2015 and more than 60% are undiagnosed’’.

He also stated that November 14 every year was earmarked by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) as the World Diabetes Day (WDD) since 1991 and it became an official United Nations day in 2006 via Resolution 61/225.

According to him, the World Diabetes Day ‘serves as the primary global awareness campaign of the disease, saying that cases could be prevented by lifestyle modification which required a high political will.

The CMD said, “The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘’Women and Diabetics-Our right to a healthy future’’. It has been realized that 1 in 7 births globally is affected by gestational diabetes and currently 199 million women are living with diabetes which is projected to reach 313 million by 2040. Moreover, two out of every women living with the disease are in their reproductive age. Although data in the country are scanty, the scenario is not encouraging as we already have a bad maternal mortality situation’’.

SAMUEL LUKA, BAUCHI