- Safiu Kehinde
An endocrinologist, Dr Ayuba Mugana, has cited risk of foot injuries and amputation as reason why diabetic patients must avoid walking barefoot.
Mugana said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Bauchi.
The endocrinologist underscored the importance of proper foot care for those with diabetes, noting that diabetic foot complications were the second most common cause of amputation, after road traffic accident.
“Check your feet regularly, if you feel pain or notice any form of injury, consult your doctor immediately,” he said.
Mugana also cautioned against wearing tight footwear and socks, as they could restrict blood flow to the feet.
He recommended using nail clippers rather than razor blades for trimming of toenails to minimise the risk of injuries.
“Do not walk barefoot, as you may unknowingly step on sharp or harmful objects and injure your feet,” he said.
Mugana further advised diabetic patients to seek early medical attention for any foot injury, to prevent complications leading to amputation.
According to the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, about 8.2 million Nigerians are at risk of diabetes even as about six million people are already living with the disease.
Statistics from Our World In Data however showed that Mauritius and Egypt have the highest diabetes prevalence in Africa at 22.60 per cent and 20.90 per cent respectively.
The report further disclosed that the percentage of people living with diabetes ranged between ages 20 and 79 in 211 countries in 2021, with data from International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
It also revealed that 13 million adults living with diabetes in the IDF Africa region are undiagnosed; adding that diabetes was responsible for 416,000 deaths in the IDF Africa Region in 2021.
Meanwhile, the IDF’s 10th edition of the Diabetes Atlas estimates that 24 million adults aged 20-79 years were living with diabetes in the Africa Region in 2021.
This figure, according to the report, is estimated to increase to 33 million by 2030 and 55 million by 2045.