Crystal Dike
When 16-year-old Chidinma Okeke collapsed during a school sports practice, her family assumed she was exhausted. Hours later, doctors diagnosed her with Type 1 diabetes, a condition that will require daily insulin injections for the rest of her life.
“I thought diabetes was only for old people,” she said, clutching her insulin kit. “But now, I’ve learned it can happen to anyone.”
Her story reflects a growing reality: diabetes is no longer confined to the elderly. From schoolchildren to retirees, the disease is spreading across all age groups, with health experts warning of a looming crisis.
Children and Adolescents at Risk
Once considered rare in youth, diabetes is now rising sharply among children and teenagers.
A hospital-based study in Kano State reported a 2.3 per 1,000 prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in children (Journal of the Nigerian Biomedical Sciences, 2016). Similarly, a national review found that post-COVID prevalence of Type 1 diabetes increased nearly eightfold to 6.96 per 1,000 compared with pre-pandemic levels of 0.9 per 1,000 (PMC, 2023).
Beyond Type 1, prediabetes—often a precursor to Type 2—is becoming more common in adolescents. In Osogbo, Osun State, 4–9.4% of secondary school students tested positive for impaired glucose regulation (ResearchGate, 2021). In Port Harcourt, another study found 17% of adolescents had prediabetes (PMC, 2022).
Globally, the trend is similar. A recent model estimated that 3.4 million adolescents live with Type 1 diabetes and 14.6 million with Type 2. Between 1990 and 2021, adolescent Type 1 cases rose 1.5 times while Type 2 rose 2.5 times (BMC Medicine, 2025).
Adults and the Elderly Bear the Heaviest Burden
While youth cases are rising, the majority of diabetes patients remain adults and the elderly.
In Nigeria, about 3.7 million adults aged 20–79 are currently living with diabetes, representing 4.6% of the adult population (World Diabetes Foundation, 2024). A systematic review estimated the national prevalence at 7.0% among adults, with the highest rates in ages 41–60 and above 60 (Clinical Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2024).
In rural Gindiri, Plateau State, a survey reported a 4.06% prevalence among elderly villagers (Journal of Medicine in the Tropics, 2019).
Globally, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reports that 589 million adults aged 20–79 are living with diabetes today, and this is projected to rise to 853 million by 2050 (IDF Diabetes Atlas, 2025). Prevalence climbs with age: 2.2% among 20–24 year-olds compared to 24% among 75–79 year-olds (NCBI Bookshelf, 2022).
The Human Toll
For young people, diabetes means social and psychological strain. “I have to think about my blood sugar before exams, parties, even before eating with friends,” Chidinma said.
For older Nigerians like 62-year-old trader Ibrahim Sule, the challenge is financial. “My pension is small, and the drugs are expensive,” he said. “Some months I have to choose between medicine and food.”
A Shared Crisis
Experts warn that without urgent action, Nigeria could face a 134% increase in diabetes cases by 2045 (Punch, 2024).
Dr. Musa Lawal, an endocrinologist at the National Hospital Abuja, explains: “We used to see Type 2 diabetes mostly in people above 50. Today, we are treating patients in their 20s and even teenagers. Diabetes doesn’t discriminate anymore.”
Call to Action
Early screening in schools to detect prediabetes and Type 1 cases.
Public education campaigns stressing exercise, balanced diets, and reduced sugar intake.
Government support to subsidize insulin and medications, especially for low-income households.
Expanded access to diagnostics in rural and semi-urban communities.
From playgrounds to retirement homes, diabetes is no longer bound by age. Its reach is universal—and the fight against it must be, too.