Expert raises concern over prevalence of type 2 diabetes in children
An expert, Endocrinologist, Dr Ayuba Mugana, of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), has raised concern over the prevalence of obesity attributed to type 2 diabetes among children.
Mugana, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi on Wednesday, noted that type 2 diabetes mostly occurred in adults, but lamented that children are now coming up with it.
“Obesity, unhealthy eating habits are causes of diabetes among children. Type 2 diabetes in children is a chronic disease that affects the way the child’s body processes sugar (glucose) for fuel.
“The disorder causes sugar to build up in the bloodstream, which can lead to serious long-term consequences,” he said.
He therefore called on stakeholders in the state to sponsor educational programmes to enlighten the general public about the disease.
According to him, 80 per cent of diabetes care is from the patient, and this care includes regular exercise, drugs and adherence to other guidelines.
He commended the activities of the Diabetes Association in Nigeria (DAN) for the monthly meeting with more than 3,000 members in Bauchi.
Speaking on Awareness, Hajia Uwa Shehu, Secretary, DAN, Bauchi state chapter, told NAN in a separate interview that the association had inaugurated additional three branches in local government councils in the state.
She said that the branches hold monthly meetings to ensure that the public are acquainted with treatment and care.
She called on governments to subsidise prices of diabetes drugs.
“The financial contribution from the association generally goes to the vulnerable patients and we have three branches in Azare, Misau, and Tafawa Balewa.
“Some few individuals sponsor a small number through donations, the number of patients mostly are women,” she added. (NAN) (
