Endocrinologists have urged the Federal Government to subsidise insulin and introduce a dedicated policy to improve access to the life-saving medication for Nigerians living with Type 1 diabetes, as the price of insulin rises sharply.
The doctors warned that the increasing cost is placing a serious financial burden on young people living with the condition, with inability to consistently access insulin potentially resulting in life-threatening complications.
The call was made on Wednesday during the sixth Annual Ogun State Youth Diabetes Camp, organised by the Talabi Diabetes Centre in Abeokuta.
The Camp Coordinator of the centre, Dr Olubiyi Adeshina, explained that Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, leaving affected persons dependent on insulin for survival.
Adeshina warned that prolonged failure to take insulin can cause dangerously high blood sugar, which may lead to coma and death.
He said people living with Type 1 diabetes require insulin throughout their lives, with some needing injections at least three times a day.
According to him, a vial of insulin that previously cost about ₦5,000 now sells for approximately ₦25,000.
He added that some patients require about two vials monthly, meaning they may spend around ₦50,000 every month on insulin alone, excluding other expenses such as blood glucose monitoring.
“It’s a tough battle. How are we going to get insulin to these young people so that they can survive into adulthood?” Adeshina asked.
He identified excessive urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, blurred vision and wounds that fail to heal among symptoms associated with diabetes.
Adeshina explained that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that cannot currently be prevented through lifestyle changes, while Type 2 diabetes is strongly associated with unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and excessive weight gain.
Also speaking, the Acting Director of the Talabi Diabetes Centre, Dr Ayotunde Ale, appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to develop a dedicated policy for people living with Type 1 diabetes, particularly children and young adults.
Ale said inflation had made insulin increasingly expensive, noting that a month’s supply that previously cost about ₦5,000 now costs around ₦25,000.
She urged the government to subsidise insulin and establish a policy framework that would make the medication more accessible.
She also called on the National Assembly to address the challenges facing people living with Type 1 diabetes, warning that treatment costs could affect their quality of life.
Beyond the financial burden, Ale identified stigma and misconceptions as additional challenges facing young people living with Type 1 diabetes.
She urged parents and members of the public to seek medical attention for children displaying symptoms of diabetes instead of attributing unexplained illnesses or deaths to traditional beliefs.
Ale appealed to families not to label children who die from unexplained causes as “ogbanje”, urging them to seek proper medical testing and screening.
She also called for increased involvement of non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders in supporting people living with diabetes.
The beneficiaries at the camp were trained on safe insulin administration, blood sugar monitoring, appropriate nutrition and physical exercise.
One participant, Onwuegbuzie Onyekachukwu Sharon, described the camp as an important platform for young people living with Type 1 diabetes to learn how to manage the condition and connect with others facing similar challenges.
Another beneficiary, Ekun David, said living with the condition had been emotionally and physically challenging, but added that the support received from the Talabi Diabetes Centre had helped him cope.
Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces, causing glucose to build up in the blood.
For people living with Type 1 diabetes, insulin is essential for survival, making the doctors’ call for government intervention increasingly urgent as the cost of the medication continues to rise.
