This year, the theme for World Diabetes Day, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps,” calls for collective action to tackle the escalating burden of diabetes globally and here in Nigeria.

In this article, we’ve highlighted the significance of addressing the barriers that individuals, communities, and healthcare systems face in accessing diabetes prevention and management.

Recent data from 2022 shows that diabetes impacts nearly 246 million people aged 30 and above across various regions. When left untreated or poorly managed, diabetes can lead to severe complications, including heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations. These complications not only take a toll on individuals and families emotionally and financially, but they also place a significant strain on healthcare systems.

In Nigeria, more than 60% of people living with diabetes are unaware of their status. There is an urgent need to raise public awareness about the prevention, early detection, and effective management of diabetes. Through campaigns focused on healthy lifestyles, maternal health, and adolescent well-being, we can approach diabetes prevention with a comprehensive, life-course perspective.

Preventing Diabetes through an Enabling Environment

Preventing diabetes requires a supportive environment that encourages healthy lifestyle choices. LESGO advocates implementing global best practices in Nigeria through a multisectoral approach that includes policies and initiatives targeting tobacco control, obesity prevention, trans fat elimination, and increased physical activity. Such steps have been recognized worldwide as effective measures for diabetes prevention and control.

Bridging Gaps in Diabetes Care Services

Ensuring timely access to diabetes care is essential for saving lives. Equitable, accessible, and affordable diabetes care services are crucial, yet less than one in three adults with diabetes in the region receive treatment, and fewer than 15% have their condition under control. Challenges such as the unavailability of standardized management protocols, essential medications, quality diagnostics, and trained healthcare professionals must be addressed immediately to strengthen our healthcare system.

Integrating diabetes care into Nigeria’s primary healthcare systems is essential. This includes implementing special packages, which equip primary healthcare with essential medications, diagnostics (such as insulin and HbA1c testing), and monitoring systems to track diabetes outcomes. Additionally, integrating diabetes care with infectious disease programs like tuberculosis benefits both patients and healthcare providers by addressing multiple health needs in tandem.

A Call for Collective Action

The journey to overcome barriers in diabetes care is challenging, but it is achievable through a shared commitment from governments, healthcare providers, and communities. By prioritizing diabetes prevention and care, we can empower people with diabetes to lead healthier, longer, and more productive lives. This World Diabetes Day, let us unite to ensure that equitable, affordable, and high-quality diabetes care becomes a reality for all, leaving no one behind in the fight against diabetes.