Diabetes becomes 7th leading cause of death by 2030

An Epidemiologist at the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Dr. Mubashir Uthman, has said that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by the year 2030. He said diabetes is very expensive to treat. “About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and Nigerians suffering from the […]

An Epidemiologist at the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Dr. Mubashir Uthman, has said that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by the year 2030.
He said diabetes is very expensive to treat.
“About 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and Nigerians suffering from the disease, spend 29 per cent of their minimum wage salary on the treating it,” he said.
“More Nigerians are dying from diabetes risk factors and individuals with a family history of diabetes are at risk. People with sedentary life style, reduced activity and obesity are all at risk,” he said.
Also speaking Prof Tanimola Akande, National Chairman of Association of Public Health Physician of Nigeria (APHPN) enjoined government to subsidize drugs for the treatment of people with diabetes.
A dietitian at the UITH, Mrs Elelu Bashir, said measures were essential in treatment of diabetes, whether patient are on diet, tablet or insulin.
She added that diabetes patients require the help of dietitians to modify their food.
Bashir advised diabetes patients to take fruits and eat at regular intervals, adding that watermelon should be consumed with the seed.