Nigerians Struggle with Rising Diabetes Treatment Costs

As World Diabetes Day is observed, many Nigerians with diabetes face significant challenges due to the high costs of medications and special diets. Patients like Mrs Ngunengen Akpam, who supports her diabetic mother, report that essential medications have seen drastic price increases; for instance, Metformin rose from N700 in 2015 to N2,500.

Similarly, Dormin's price increased from N700 to N3,500. Akpam also highlighted the rising costs of necessary dietary items, making it hard to maintain a regulated diet.

Mrs Elahi Onu, living with diabetes for 11 years, noted that her children spend at least N25,000 monthly on her medication and over N60,000 on her special diet, which includes costly items like unripe plantain and basmati rice. Onu also faces challenges with routine medical examinations, with one medication, Triviamet, costing about N13,000 for a pack of 35 tablets.

The financial burden of managing diabetes is a constant source of worry for these families.