“I recall feeling perpetually fatigued, excessively thirsty, and making frequent trips to the bathroom at night,” Adeola shares. “I was losing weight quickly despite maintaining a good diet. It was during a routine check-up that I learned my blood sugar levels were alarmingly high.”
Her experience with the condition has been tough, but she remains determined and has embraced a new lifestyle that she believes is essential for her health.
Adeola’s strategy for managing her diabetes is rooted in balanced dedication and consistency. She highlights that her path to acceptance and control started with gaining knowledge and awareness.
Following her diagnosis, Adeola reached out to healthcare professionals, dietitians, and diabetes support groups. This support network proved vital in helping her comprehend what it means to live with diabetes and how to effectively manage her blood sugar levels.
Since then, Adeola has implemented significant lifestyle modifications to control her diabetes. She adheres to a strict diet, engages in regular exercise, takes her medication, and consistently monitors her blood sugar levels. “It’s challenging, but essential,” she states. “I want to be present for my children and lead a healthy life.”
Diabetes awareness and a healthy lifestyle
While Adeola’s experience is not uncommon, many individuals remain unaware of their condition. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2021, approximately 537 million people, or about 10.5% of the global population, were living with diabetes, many of whom did not know they had the disease or its potential complications.
Diabetes, characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, is a long-term health condition that impacts the body's ability to transform food into energy. The incidence of diabetes is increasing significantly in middle and low-income nations, particularly in Nigeria. This condition poses a serious health threat, leading to various complications such as vision loss, kidney failure, cardiovascular events, strokes, and amputations.
Nigeria holds the highest diabetes rate in sub-Saharan Africa, with the World Health Organization estimating a prevalence of 4.3%. This alarming rate is largely due to lifestyle changes associated with urbanization, which have resulted in the proliferation of unhealthy dietary options, including sugary beverages, sedentary habits, tobacco use, and excessive alcohol consumption.
A Call to Action: Understanding Your Health Status Can Save Lives
As we observe World Diabetes Day 2024, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the WHO Nigeria Country Representative, highlights the critical need for diabetes education, awareness, early diagnosis, and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle.
Dr. Mulombo stated, “This year’s theme, ‘Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps,’ reflects our dedication to minimizing diabetes risk and ensuring that everyone diagnosed with the condition has access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable, and high-quality treatment and care.
“Being aware of one’s diabetes status can truly be a matter of life and death. On this World Diabetes Day, I call upon individuals, communities, governments, healthcare professionals, policymakers, and civil society organizations to collaborate and take immediate action. Individuals should focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and those already diagnosed with diabetes must ensure they have regular health check-ups.
Communities can contribute by fostering supportive environments that encourage healthy living, combat stigma, and facilitate access to affordable diabetes care and education. We urge governments to continue their efforts in implementing policies that improve access to essential medications, strengthen primary healthcare systems, and prioritize investments in diabetes prevention and management.”
Taking deliberate steps
The WHO has been actively assisting the Nigerian government in its initiatives to address the disease.
With WHO's backing, the Federal Ministry of Health has formulated and implemented a Multisectoral Action Plan aimed at decreasing the incidence and mortality associated with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). This plan encompasses effective policies and social strategies designed to promote behavioral and lifestyle modifications.
Recently, the WHO collaborated with Nigeria’s Governors Forum to launch Project 10 Million, titled Know Your Numbers, Control Your Number, which aims to screen 10 million individuals for hypertension and diabetes. This initiative provided a platform to enhance awareness regarding NCDs as a significant public health challenge that necessitates immediate action.
For Adeola and countless others, World Diabetes Day serves as a reminder that while diabetes is a part of her journey, it does not define her identity. With early detection and proactive management, it is possible to live well with the condition.
Her message to others is straightforward: everyone should monitor their health and take charge of their well-being. Diabetes is not a terminal condition; rather, it presents an opportunity to reassess our health and lifestyle choices.