Summary of Diabetes in Nigeria – Crystalife care international- Non-governmental public health with international standard

Diabetes in Nigeria

September 27, 2025
By admin
Charity, NTD

Summary of Diabetes in Nigeria

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. It results in high blood sugar (glucose) levels because the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it produces effectively (known as insulin resistance).

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into your body’s cells to be used for energy.

The main types of diabetes are:

Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune disease where the body mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells (beta cells) in the pancreas. People with Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin daily to survive. It is often diagnosed in children and young adults, but can occur at any age.
Type 2 Diabetes: The most common type. With Type 2, your body doesn’t use insulin well (insulin resistance), and eventually, your pancreas may not be able to produce enough insulin to compensate. It develops over many years and is often linked to factors like being overweight, lack of physical activity, and genetics.
Gestational Diabetes: Develops during pregnancy in women who have never had diabetes before. It usually goes away after the baby is born, but it increases the risk for the mother and child to develop Type 2 diabetes later in life.
Prediabetes: Blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes significantly increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

Common Symptoms (especially for Type 1, which tend to come on quickly and be more severe, while Type 2 symptoms may develop slowly or be unnoticeable):

Increased thirst
Frequent urination (often at night)
Unexplained weight loss
Increased hunger
Extreme fatigue
Blurred vision
Slow-healing sores or frequent infections
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet (diabetic neuropathy, often a later symptom)

Treatment depends on the type, but generally involves:

Monitoring Blood Sugar: Regular checks are essential to manage the condition.
Lifestyle Changes: A healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and regular physical activity are critical for managing all types and can help prevent or manage Type 2 diabetes.
Medication:
- Insulin Therapy: Required for Type 1 diabetes and often for advanced Type 2 diabetes (delivered by injection or pump).
- Oral Medications/Other Injectable Drugs: Often prescribed for Type 2 diabetes to help the body use insulin better or lower blood sugar in other ways.

If you suspect you or someone you know might have diabetes, it is important to consult a healthcare provider for testing and diagnosis.

Summary of Diabetes in Nigeria September 2025

Diabetes is a significant and growing public health concern in Nigeria. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the situation.

Prevalence and Burden

Prevalence: The prevalence of diabetes in adults in Nigeria is estimated to be around 3.0%, with nearly 3 million cases in 2024.
Growing Problem: The burden of diabetes is increasing in the country. A systematic review found that the age-adjusted prevalence of type 2 diabetes among adults aged 20–79 years increased from 2.0% in 1990 to 5.7% in 2015.
Undiagnosed Cases: A major challenge is the high number of undiagnosed cases. A significant proportion of people with diabetes in Nigeria are unaware of their condition, which can lead to delayed treatment and increased risk of complications.

Types of Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes: This is the most common form of diabetes in Nigeria, accounting for over 90% of all cases. It is often associated with lifestyle factors.
Type 1 Diabetes: While less common than type 2, it is also present, particularly among children and young adults.
Gestational Diabetes: This occurs during pregnancy and can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life for both the mother and child.

Key Risk Factors

The rise in diabetes in Nigeria is linked to several risk factors, many of which are associated with urbanization and changing lifestyles:

Obesity and Overweight: This is a major contributor to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes.
Physical Inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle is a significant risk factor.
Unhealthy Diet: Dietary habits that are high in saturated fats and refined sugars and low in fruits and vegetables contribute to the problem.
Urban Dwelling: The prevalence of diabetes is generally higher in urban areas compared to rural ones.
Age: Older age is a known risk factor.
Family History: Having a family history of diabetes increases an individual’s risk.
Hypertension: High blood pressure is also a strong risk factor for diabetes.

Management and Challenges

The management of diabetes in Nigeria involves a combination of medical care, lifestyle changes, and public health initiatives.

National Guidelines: The Federal Ministry of Health has developed a national guideline for the prevention, control, and management of diabetes to ensure standardized care.
Medical Care: Diabetes is managed at various levels of the healthcare system, including primary, secondary, and tertiary health centers. Treatment may involve oral medications and/or insulin therapy.
Self-Management: Patient self-management education is crucial, but many Nigerians with diabetes have insufficient knowledge and poor self-management practices.
Financial and Societal Challenges: The high cost of treatment is a significant barrier for many patients. Factors like low medical insurance coverage, poverty, and a reliance on ethnomedical or complementary therapies can hinder effective management.
Awareness and Education: There are ongoing efforts to raise public awareness about diabetes through campaigns, screenings, and educational programs by organizations like the Diabetes Association of Nigeria.

Complications

Poorly managed diabetes can lead to a range of severe complications, including:

Diabetic Foot Ulcers: This is a common and serious complication that can lead to amputations.
Cardiovascular Diseases: Diabetes increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Kidney Disease: Diabetic nephropathy can lead to kidney failure.
Ophthalmological Issues: Retinopathy can cause vision loss and blindness.
Hyperglycemic Emergencies: Untreated or poorly managed diabetes can lead to acute complications like diabetic ketoacidosis.

Sources

SURJEN Healthcare

Diabetes in Nigeria: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention – SURJEN Healthcare

Diabetes mellitus is a fast-growing public health problem in Nigeria, increasing due to urbanization, lack of physical activity, and nutritional transition.

International Diabetes Federation

Nigeria | Diabetes Network

Key information. Nigeria is one of the 48 countries of the IDF African region. 589 million people have diabetes in the world and 25 million people in the AFR …

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Estimating the prevalence, hospitalisation and mortality from type 2 diabetes mellitus in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMJ Open

The age-adjusted prevalence rates of T2DM in Nigeria among persons aged 20–79 years increased from 2.0% (95% CI 1.9% to 2.1%) in 1990 to 5.7% (95% CI 5.5% to …

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The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Diabetes Mellitus among Civil Service Workers in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria – ClinMed International Library

Many cases of diabetes are undiagnosed in Nigeria due to poverty and inadequate access to health care [10]. Fifty percent or more of those with the disease are …

Diabetes: A Silent Killer in Nigeria – Brieflands

A previous study reported that about 4.7 million Nigerians had type 2 diabetes (3). Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is predominant among diabetes mellitus …

SURJEN Healthcare

Diabetes in Nigeria: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention – SURJEN Healthcare

It typically develops gradually over a very long period of years and is often associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, and diet. …

SURJEN Healthcare

Diabetes in Nigeria: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention – SURJEN Healthcare

Women with a history of gestational diabetes are likely to get type 2 diabetes in later life, and their offspring are also susceptible to obesity and type 2 …

SURJEN Healthcare

Diabetes in Nigeria: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention – SURJEN Healthcare

Factors contributing to this rise include: – Urbanization and Changes in Lifestyle: Increased adoption of sedentary lifestyles and consumption of processed, …

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Diabetes in Nigeria: Impact, Challenges, Future Directions – Longdom Publishing

Majority (70% – 90%) of African diabetes is of type 2 [18,19] and is more prevalent among the wealthy, hence the tag “disease of opulence”. It is more …

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Diabetes Mellitus in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis – PubMed Central

Risk factors for the pooled prevalence of DM were a family history of DM (4.6%; 95% CI 3.5–5.6); urban dwelling (6.0%; 95% CI 4.3–7.8); unhealthy dietary …

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Diabetes Mellitus and its Risk Factors Among a Suburban Population of Northwestern Nigerians: A Community-Based Survey

Male gender OR 0.74, (95% CI = 0.569 – 1.982), age >40yrs OR 1.12 (95% CI = 0.851 – 1.463), physical inactivity OR 3.78 (95% CI = 2.881 – 12.726), Hypertension …

ClinMed International Library

clinmedjournals.org

The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Diabetes Mellitus among Civil Service Workers in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria – ClinMed International Library

Findings of this study revealed a high prevalence of diabetes, due to the high incidence of high blood pressure and obesity, coupled with consumption of soft …

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How to Manage Diabetes – SYNLAB Nigeria

Share this blog post with your friends. FacebookXLinkedInWhatsAppPinterestEmail. Diabetes management deals with a combination of medication, regular monitoring …

Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD)

Addressing the Diabetes Burden in Nigeria through Policy and Health Education – Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD)

The National guideline on prevention, control and management of diabetes mellitus standards helps in ensuring that there is a standardised medical care and …

Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD)

Addressing the Diabetes Burden in Nigeria through Policy and Health Education – Centre for Health Ethics Law and Development (CHELD)

Nigeria should develop the political will and strong national commitment to prevent and control diabetes in Nigeria. This could be done by the adoption of …

www.synlab.com.ng

How to Manage Diabetes – SYNLAB Nigeria

MEDICATIONS AND THERAPY FOR DIABETES – Oral Medication. Oral medication is often given to individuals with type 2 diabetes, to help lower their blood sugar …

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nigerian Health Care Providers and Diabetes Self-Management Support: Their Perspectives and Practices – PubMed Central

Despite the pivotal role of SMS in diabetes care, little is known about SMS practices in Nigeria. Meanwhile, Nigerians living with T2DM tend to have …

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Diabetes Association of Nigeria

The education of the Nigerian public about the early recognition of diabetes, the importance of medical supervision of its treatment and behavioural …

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www.longdom.org

Diabetes in Nigeria: Impact, Challenges, Future Directions – Longdom Publishing

DM is one of the commonest reasons for admission in Tertiary Hospitals in Nigeria with hyperglycemic emergencies and diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) being the …

Diabetes: A Silent Killer in Nigeria – Brieflands

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimated that about two-thirds of people with diabetes in Africa are undiagnosed. The complications of diabetes …

Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Overview of Diabetes Mellitus (DM)

Complications of DM. If left untreated, may present with acute complications such as hyperglycaemic emergencies such as Diabetes Ketoacidosis, Hyperosmolar …

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