Some patients of diabetes in Abuja have expressed concern over the cost of medications, which they said increased from N70,000 to N180,000 per month.
The patients expressed their worries in an interview with journalists on Friday.
Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose).
Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common, is the condition whereby the body either does not produce enough insulin or resists insulin.
Insulin is a hormone the body makes to help it control blood sugar levels and metabolism, the process that turns the food you eat into energy.
Bernard Enyia, the vice-president, Diabetes Association in Nigeria, who narrated his situation, said, “a year ago, I managed my diabetes with a monthly budget of N70,000 for insulin and other medical expenses.
“Today, I spend over ₦180,000 each month, a figure that more than doubled.
Mr Enyia said that the increase in the cost of medications was unsustainable for many Nigerians.
He added, “this is because insulin, which is an essential life-saving medicine for diabetes, has become a luxury, and many cannot afford it.
“As a result, many people living with diabetes have resorted to rationing their medicines, some have embraced unorthodox means, while others have stopped taking any medications.”
He said that diabetes complications are debilitating, “and if poorly managed, the disease can damage blood vessels and lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, among others.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also linked the consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.”
Mr Enyia also narrated how he lost his job as a health worker in 2017 when his employer became dissatisfied with his multiple hospital visits and absenteeism.
He said, “my marriage also suffered, while I experienced blood sugar spikes during long-distance travel, degenerating into life-threatening hyperglycemic episodes.”
Omei Bongos, a health communications, policy and advocacy specialist, called for national and international donors’ support for people living with diabetes.
Ibrahim Babayaro, a teacher in Abuja, urged the government to subsidise essential medications and improve healthcare infrastructure to alleviate the financial burden on citizens.
On her part, Juliet Bernard, a director at a pharmacy in Abuja, complained that the cost of insulin has doubled in the country.
Ms Bernard said, “insulin is not manufactured in the country and the dollar exchange rate has affected the cost greatly.
“Most people suffering from diabetes depend on insulin to manage their blood sugar levels, injecting themselves twice daily, this is why the disease is expensive to manage,” she said.
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