Agency Some residents of Abuja living with diabetes are having a tough time staying on treatment as they lament over the persistent hike in 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 the News Agency of Nigeria Friday. NAN reports that diabetes is a chronic condition affecting how 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, turning the food you eat into energy. Mr 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 monthly, a figure that more than doubled. 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 dama.