Nigerians urged to go for regular diabetes screening

To reduce the burden of diabetes in the country, Nigerians have been urged to know their diabetes status by going for regular screening.

The Federal government has been enjoined also to make diabetes screening routine in hospitals across the country.

The Medical Director, Rainbow Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Afoke Isiavwe who made this call, said diabetes is almost becoming an epidemic in Nigeria .

Isiavwe reiterating the need for Nigerians to undergo blood sugar tests regularly , warned that deaths and morbidity recorded as a result of diabetes would continue to rise if those affected were not diagnosed and treated early.

She however, noted that making diabetes screening routine like high blood pressure would help detect large number of people living with the disease without knowing it.

Isiawe who is also the Coordinator, Diabetes Podiatry Initiative Nigeria & Medical Director Rainbow Specialist Hospital, regretted that millions of Nigerians do not know their diabetes status.

According to the President, Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN, Dr. Alkali Mohammed , more than half of the individuals that are diabetic in Nigeria are not aware of the fact that they have the disease .

She further urged Nigerians already living with the disease to guide against diabetic foot.

Warning them against walking bare-footed, she stressed the need for people with diabetes to inspect their feet daily to prevent amputation and other complications of the diseases.

According to her, for diabetes a sore on the leg is an emergency and should be taken to a hospital for proper management because 85 percent of diabetic amputation are preceded by a sore on the leg.

“Worldwide over one million amputations occur with people with diabetes every year and every second a limb is lost to diabetes. Patients with diabetes are at 15 – 40 folds higher risk of a lower limb amputation than non-diabetic patients.

She said “People living with diabetes should take extra care of their feet and check their feet everyday for colour changes, red spots, cuts, swelling, blisters, and numbness and also choose their footwear appropriately, and avoid walking around without shoes.”

Isiavwe posited that early detection would help avoid poor outcome and reduce amputation from diabetes.

On her part, the Strategic Accounts Manager for Diabetes care, Roche Diabetes Care, Mrs. Folashade Olufemi-Ajayi appealed to government to make a policy that would mandate checking of blood glucose as routine just like blood pressure is checked.

She said if made compulsory in the hospitals, “we will be able to detect early those people in their pre-diabetes stage or down with diabetes and this will reduce further progression into complications.”

She also called out to diabetic patients to always carry out structured self monitoring of blood glucose so as to enable them achieve appropriate metabolic control and avoid the risk of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

End.