By; NICHOLAS DEKERA, Kaduna
No fewer than 578 million people worldwide might become diabetic by the year 2023, if necessary measures are not taken to control the rising rate of the patients.
Chief Medical Director, National Eye Centre, represented by Dr. Murtala Umar, a senior consultant and eye expert from the centre, stated this while making a presentation on the topic;.”Diabetes and the Eye” during a media health day organized by the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN) in Kaduna.
Dr. Umar pointed out that a diabetic patient could become blind eventually if not treated at early stages of discovery, adding that although the body cannot function effectively without sugar, poorly controlled sugar levels could affect several organs of the body and when it affects the eye, it could result to blindness.
He disclosed that the current statistics which varies periodically, has it that 463 million adults are presently diabetic, adding that, ” it has the tendencies of increasing to 578 million globally by 2030 if unchecked.
“Consistent high sugar level damages blood vessels and other organs, eg the kidney, heart, eye, liver, and brain but the eye shows quick damage which is a window to the brain.
“Retina can be affected by diabetes which could lead to blindness. Poorly controlled diabetes leads to cataract and other eye challenges. Watery eyes and discharges could be as a result of diabetes complications”.
Dr. Umar further disclosed that millions of deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year, adding that the number of cases and the prevalence of diabetes have been steadily increasing over the past few decades.
As part of measures to the increasing rate of diabetes amongst people, he advocated regular creation of awareness, campaign on effective working of the pancreas, consumption of more vegetables, chicken and fish and avoidance of excessive consumption of sugar or food with high sugar content.
