Preventing Diabetes mellitus in Nigeria: Policy issues

Diabetes mellitus, a chronic debilitating disease, which results from derrangement of carbohydrate metabolism, is very commonly seen in Nigerian hospitals. Most of the diabetics, present in modern health care facilities, when complications such as blurred vision, coma and gangrenous ulcers have set in. It is therefore necessary to develop appropriate policies that will prevent most people from developing diabetes mellitus, facilitate early diagnosis and treatment in order to reduce the pain, suffering and burden of patients and families. In this study, a readily available cheap method of screening, urine glucose testing is compared to fasting blood sugar as a diagnostic tool. Results of urine glucose testing and fasting blood sugar from 40 known diabetics (cases) and 40 patients, who visited hospital for other ailments(controls) were compared. Urine glucose testing was found to be a readily available and affordable screening method with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 83% and a predictive value of 80% for diabetes mellitus.