The Ogun government, on Saturday, joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2020 World Diabetes Day, with a call on all stakeholders to raise more awareness about the disease.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, in a statement issued in Abeokuta, described diabetes as a disease that deserved more attention, saying one out of every 10 people worldwide lived with the disease.
According to him, 70 per cent of estimated four million people living with diabetes in Nigeria are unaware of their status, adding that the disease is a major cause of blindness, heart attacks, stroke, kidney failure and lower limb amputation.
She said that the World Diabetes Day, which is celebrated every Nov. 14, had remained a huge opportunity for people to learn about the symptoms, preventive measures, management and treatment of the disease.
coker listed some of the early symptoms of the disease as extreme fatigue, weight loss, increased appetite and insatiable thirst.
“Sadly, many people living with the disease in our climes disregard these warning signs until they start to develop complications. This underscores the importance of early diagnosis.
“The good news is that the consequences of diabetes can be avoided with a healthy diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications.
“Anyone living with diabetes should also abstain from smoking and excessive alcohol,” she said.
The commissioner called on all relevant stakeholders to contribute their quota towards educating and informing the general public about the disease, saying this would reduce its fatality in the long run.