Red alert on rising diabetes cases

• Nova Biomedicals, Roche, Sanofi raise awareness to curtail scourge, offer free screening, introduce new products
As part of its activities to mark the world diabetes day, the Roche Diabetes Care in partnership with Rainbow Specialist Hospital and Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) are intensifying awareness on the epidemic.

The groups decried poor awareness as a major factor leading to the increasing rate of the disease in the country and called on the media to take upon them the drive to educate the general public on the importance of being knowledgeable about the scourge in order to curtail its effects.

Dr. Rita Isiavwe of Rainbow Specialist Hospital said that globally, 415 million people were diagnosed in 2015 and 50 per cent of the people affected do not know and that diabetes accounts for 40 to 60per cent of all non-traumatic lower limb amputation.

Meanwhile, as part of its cooperate social responsibilities and to commemorate the world diabetes day, the Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria limited in partnership with Department of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, called on the general public to embrace a healthy lifestyle in other to reduce the effect of the scourge.

The event, which kicked off with two kilometres health walk is meant to educate the general public on the effect of the exercise on the disease. The group also offered free screening for individuals in other to know their status because ignorance has been described as leading factor to the increasing alarming rate of diabetes.

Consultant Endocrinologist College of Medicine LUTH, Dr. Ifedayo Odeniyi, said that the day is a day set aside by World Health Organisation (WHO) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to mark the world diabetes day, it is set aside just for diabetes.

Also, in a bid to curtail the effects of diabetes, the Nova Biomedical Group, United States, has introduced its approved glucometer, known for its ability to measure both blood glucose and ketones, to Nigerians in other to reduce the menace of the disease.

They made the call through Union Diagnostics and Clinical Services, a wholly indigenous Nigerian company.

Speaking at the launch of the product in Lagos Director, Medical and Scientific Affairs Middle East and India Nova Biomedical Corporation, Dr. Charbel Abou-Diwan, said that the beauty of the product is the ability to deliver accurate testing and it is among the very few in the world that measures blood glucose and ketones simultaneously.

Abou-Diwan highlighted the importance in monitoring, diagnosing and treating patients that have keto acidosis which accounts for four per cent death in diabetes saying that the product will provide the patients a better monitor of diabetes and enjoy better health.

The Director added that the product is unique because it can be least affected by environmental conditions and no interference with certain drugs.

He assured of more reliable and accurate result saying: “More accurate result translates to a better monitoring and control of their diabetes since the patients now know the actually level of their diabetes.”

Meanwhile, Managing Director (MD) Union Diagnostics Dr. Olusola Akinniyi said that it is the first glucometer in the world that can measure blood sugar as well as ketone, most of the glucometer in the market can measure blood sugar only and in measurement, the value they give has interferences from other blood components. So they are never accurate and about four percent of death has been caused by wrong measurement.

Meanwhile, Isiavwe noted that the current prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria is not known. But current guess estimates may likely be in the region of eight to 10per cent.

She added that the up to 25per cent of persons living with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer and prevalence of foot ulcer in diabetics is four to 10 per cent.

The expert advised the populace to take proper care of their diabetes by checking their feet daily. Her words: “Look at your bare feet for red spots, cuts, swelling, and blisters. Keep your feet clean with daily washing in clean water. After washing make sure you dry your feet, especially in-between the toes. Get correct information on diabetes foot care by reading more and asking your healthcare. People with existing foot problems; therapeutic shoes can help you prevent more complications.”

Strategic Account Manager Roche diabetes Care, Folasade Olufemi-Ajayi, said that the objective is to focus on this year’s world diabetes theme which is ‘Eyes on Diabetes’ to collaborate with DAN and Rainbow specialist Hospital to work together and create more awareness in diabetes to lay more emphasis on mass screening of people in other to identify those who are diabetic or who are in pre-diabetic stage that are not even aware of it.

She added that a lot of Nigerians are not aware of diabetes, some have little knowledge of diabetes and some are embracing proper care and some are not very dedicated to proper care.

Odeniyi noted that diabetes burden is increasing and Nigeria population is put to about five million and that globally as of last year about 415 million people had diabetes, which is projected that by 2040 more than 600 million people will come down with diabetes if nothing is done.

The consultant noted that in Nigeria today apart from people that have the family history, the environment also influences who gets it, in the sense that our life style is getting more sedentary.

He stated: “We no longer exercise; we consume a lot of calories. This contributes to the diabetes. If you don’t exercise you get to add weight and when you add weight insulin does not work very well and diabetes will happen.’’

Odeniyi encourage people to take on exercise and also tasked on the government to come in, and include health in their policies.
His words: “Most of our roads do not have walkways, no recreational centre where people can work and do anything in form of exercise. You cannot force people to exercise but you can encourage them to exercise.”

Odeniyi continued: “People living with diabetes there is no special food for them to eat. They can eat any food available in the environment the same with those who do not have. The main thing is to eat with moderation. They must be physically active and also we do not encourage cigarette smoking and also to reduce the alcohol intake.’’

The endocrinologist urged the government to subsidize the equipment used in diagnosing and also the drugs because they are quite expensive

Head of external affairs Sanofi-Aventis Nigeria limited Oladimeji Agbolade said: “Sanofi is a global company, we are focused on meeting the needs of the patients and in terms of our areas of expertise we produce and distribute therapeutic solutions in the area of diabetes and cardiovascular, immunology, malaria antibiotic, vaccines and so many areas.”

He continued: “What we do in a day like this is to raise awareness. We cannot do it alone. We collaborated with the department of medicine LUTH to raise awareness against diabetes.

Agbolade noted their partnership with health institutions and some government agencies, healthcare practitioners, patient associations and any stakeholder and interested party in other to raise awareness to make the public aware of this disease.
The chairman DAN Lagos state chapter, Dr. Hameed Afinowi, said that diabetes is a peculiar disease, which is not curable but can be managed. He said the ailment can be managed by eating properly and using drugs prescribed by the doctor and also avoid combination therapy to avoid complications.

Afinowi lamented on the high cost of diabetes drugs saying the government is only concerned about malaria and Human Immuno deficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). He beckoned on the government to salvage the situation for diabetic patients too.

Olufemi-Ajayi added that if there is better awareness and more people been enlightened about the epidemic, people will be able to make better decision and the key is working together with the media and diabetes expert to create awareness on the epidemic of diabetics.

She enjoined people living with diabetes to get the right education by proper diabetes management, because diabetes is a manageable disease and also to join DAN of their state in other to get proper education.

She encouraged the government to find a way and make diabetes treatment cheaper and should formulate policy that will make blood glucose testing a routine in hospitals.

The account manager said blood glucose routine check would lead to early detection even those in the pre diabetic state so as to encourage early treatment and reduce progression into complications.

Meanwhile, Akinniyi added that one of the complications of diabetes is called Diabetes Keto Acidosis (DKA), which is a leading cause of death in diabetes, four to six per cent.

“There is no glucometer in the world that can measure blood glucose and blood ketone. This is the only glucometer that can measure the two at the same time. It is present in the advanced world. This is the first time this kind of facility is coming to Nigeria and we are working in partnership with the public and all stakeholders to make sure that it is available with its strips all year round and as long as possible,” he said.

Akinniyi attested to the quality of the product saying that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would never accredit any instrument if it were not genuine or of high quality.

He said also that they are subsidizing the glucometer heavily likewise Nova to make it available to Nigerians and make the strips even cheaper and within the reach of many Nigerians.

“The worry of every doctor should be that people should be aware of their health status because treatment starts from being aware. Diabetes is now in the increase in children especially because of high consumption of processed food. There is no time to exercise, my advice is that people should come out and get tested. If peradventure you are diabetic or pre diabetic you should get a glucometer and from time to time try and check to know if your blood sugar is high so as to see your Doctor,” said the DG.

Associate Professor of Medicine and Consultant and Head, Diabetes Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Dr. Anthonia Ogbera, in her account said that ketones is very important to measure because there is a complication of diabetes which kills more people with diabetes known as DKA and it is as a result of high level of ketone in the blood.

Her words: “We do not have the facility to diagnose that because when a patient comes you need to make a quick diagnosis but with this meter now we can make a better diagnosis.”

Ogbera added: “We need to look beyond government; we need nongovernmental organisations and cooperate bodies and all stakeholders to join in the fight to reduce diabetes.”