Medical specialists at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) have issued a strong warning about Nigeria's escalating diabetes crisis while advocating for enhanced preventive measures and improved workplace conditions for affected individuals.
Alarming Diabetes Statistics Revealed
During World Diabetes Day 2025 observances, Professor Olufemi Fasanmade, Head of the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit at LUTH, disclosed shocking statistics about the disease's prevalence. Approximately seven percent of Nigerians were living with diabetes in 2024, but projections indicate this figure could skyrocket to 40 percent over the next three decades.
Professor Fasanmade emphasized that diabetes has become a global burden, with an estimated 600 million people currently affected worldwide. He stressed that preventing the condition proves far more beneficial than managing its numerous complications.
Workplace Stigma and Economic Impact
The experts highlighted the significant challenges faced by working Nigerians with diabetes. Many continue to experience workplace stigma, leading them to conceal their health status from colleagues and employers.
Dr. Wale Bello, representing LUTH's Chief Medical Director Professor Lanre Adeyemo, noted that diabetes primarily affects individuals aged 30 to 79 years, which constitutes the majority of the working population. This demographic reality makes diabetic workers particularly vulnerable to absenteeism, reduced productivity, and lower efficiency.
Dr. Bello emphasized that individuals living with diabetes should not face stigmatization or victimization in their workplaces, urging employers to create more welcoming and non-discriminatory environments.
Proposed Solutions and Government Action
The LUTH team proposed multiple strategies to combat the growing diabetes epidemic. Professor Fasanmade revealed that he and his colleagues had recommended implementing a sugar-sweetened beverage tax two years ago to discourage excessive consumption of unhealthy drinks.
"People are more likely to choose water if it were cheaper than sugary drinks," Fasanmade argued. He noted that many consumers continue purchasing soft drinks without realizing these choices are gradually worsening their health.
Dr. Bello stressed that government involvement is essential to scale up diabetes awareness efforts. He urged authorities to partner with companies, hospitals, and management bodies to reduce the disease's increasing burden.
Beyond taxation of sweetened beverages, he recommended that the government should strengthen public enlightenment campaigns, collaborate with organizations like the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, and improve infrastructure for diabetes care.
Historical Context and Awareness Efforts
Dr. Oluwarotimi Olapade, Secretary-General of the EDM Unit, provided historical context about diabetes care, noting the inception of insulin in 1921. He emphasized that World Diabetes Day, marked globally on November 14, provides a crucial platform to educate the public about prevention and raise awareness among those living with the condition.
The Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit of LUTH, in collaboration with the Department of Internal Medicine, marked World Diabetes Day 2025 with free diabetes screening and an awareness drive. The initiative aimed to educate the public on proper diabetes management, particularly in workplace settings.
