World Diabetes Day: FAAF Advocates Early Detection, Affordable Care

The Florence Ayodele Ajao Foundation (FAAF) has called for increased awareness and early detection of diabetes to prevent complications and improve patients’ quality of life.

It also stressed the need to make treatment and disease management more affordable, particularly through access to locally sourced food, regular blood sugar monitoring and emotional support.

The foundation’s founder, Olayinka Deborah Ajao, made the call at an event organised on Saturday by the foundation in Abuja to mark the 2026 World Diabetes Day, with the theme, “Early Action on Diabetes”.

She said FAAF was introducing food support and glucose monitoring devices for people living with diabetes as part of efforts to promote affordable and effective disease management.

Ajao explained that the initiative would identify locally sourced foods that patients could afford and incorporate into their diets without compromising their health.

She said the intervention would complement medications prescribed by medical professionals, noting that the high cost of living had made it difficult for some patients to maintain recommended diets.

“We are trying to tell people that there are some locally sourced foods that are cheaper and available in the market. We are giving them these foods to help manage their sugar levels through portion control and moderation,” she said.

The founder added that the foundation would distribute glucometers to beneficiaries to enable them to monitor and keep records of their blood sugar levels.

She, however, clarified that FAAF would not provide medication, explaining that its intervention would focus on nutritional support, awareness and encouragement for patients.

Ajao said the foundation was established in honour of her late mother, Florence Ayodele Ajao, who lived with diabetes before her death.

She disclosed that losing a friend to the disease in 2021 also strengthened her determination to promote awareness, adding that she had sustained the campaign since November 14 of that year.

According to her, the foundation initially offered emotional support through visits to patients in hospital diabetes wards but would now expand its activities following its formal launch this year.

She also identified ignorance and stigmatisation as major challenges confronting people living with diabetes, urging Nigerians to demonstrate empathy towards those managing chronic illnesses.

Ajao said the foundation included cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in its activities to equip participants with basic knowledge of emergency response.

Speaking at the event, a medical practitioner, Dr Chinasa Tony, urged Nigerians to undergo regular medical checks, particularly those with a family history of diabetes.

Tony, who said her interest in diabetes awareness was influenced by the loss of two loved ones and her mother’s experience with the condition, described diabetes as manageable with appropriate medical care and lifestyle adjustments.

She identified healthy eating, regular exercise and portion control as important measures for preventing and managing the condition.

“Diabetes is not a death sentence. It can be prevented, controlled and managed,” she said.

The medical practitioner stressed that patients must adhere to prescribed medications and ensure that insulin treatment was properly monitored to prevent dangerously low blood sugar levels.

She also advised people to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly rather than wait until they developed symptoms before seeking medical attention.

Also speaking, a counselling psychologist and resource person at the event, Chibuzor Stella, highlighted the psychological challenges associated with diabetes, including denial, anxiety, depression and feelings of hopelessness.

She said early detection was important because it helped patients understand their condition and take the necessary steps towards managing it.

According to her, accepting the diagnosis was the first step towards effective self-management, followed by medication adherence, appropriate nutrition and proper medical care.

Stella urged family members and caregivers to provide emotional support instead of subjecting patients to constant criticism or restrictions.

She also cautioned healthcare professionals against adopting an excessively harsh approach when advising diabetic patients, saying this could increase their anxiety and discourage them from managing their condition.

“Medical personnel should not be like food police. You see most of them saying, ‘Don’t, don’t, don’t,’ thereby putting fear, anxiety, depression and a state of hopelessness in the patient,” she said.

She advocated counselling for patients struggling with medication adherence or dietary restrictions, adding that healthcare workers should encourage moderation rather than resort to intimidation.

Earlier in the day, participants embarked on a morning road walk as part of activities to promote diabetes awareness and encourage healthier lifestyles.

World Diabetes Day is observed annually on November 14 as the leading global awareness campaign on diabetes mellitus.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that nearly three out of every four adults living with diabetes in Africa are unaware of their condition, exposing millions to potentially life-threatening complications.

Globally, one in nine adults is currently living with diabetes, while the number is projected to reach 853 million by 2050.