Some diabetic patients in Adamawa have appealed to the Federal Government to provide free drugs for them to ease their hardship like that provided for HIV/AIDS victims in the country.
The patients made the call in an interview in Yola on Tuesday.
Alhaji Abubakar Gidado, one of the respondents, said finding medication to treat the ailment was difficult especially with the current economic situation in the country.
He said government intervention would help to save lives of people as many are dying because of diabetes.
He said their major challenge is financial for buying drugs and dietary.
“To control my condition I have to abide by medical advice, for regular exercise, eating dietary and use of drug which is costly now.
“I use to monitor my sugar level after three days Acchuk strip,” he said.
According to him, for Glucophage control he uses Diabitamin and clermide, adding that he is in the situation for 10 years.
Alhaji Sa’ad Binkola, is another patient suffering with the disease for 15 years.
According to him, he is no longer finding it easy to control since he retired from the service.
He added that before retirement he patronize government hospital, but now visit private hospital for his weekly checkups and daily drugs.
Binkola also said that the drugs and dietary is very expensive.
“We are urging Federal Government to consider people leaving with diabetics in terms of providing free drugs or at subsidized price like that of people living with AIDS.
“Because we are on drug everyday on no account for one to skip,” he said.
According to him, he uses Daolling and Glucophage drugs to control his sugar level, while for testing, he patronize clinic which get the blood through fingers and sometimes veins.
Alhaji Ibrahim Baba decried the high level of the increase of people living with diabetics in the country.
He attributed it to type of food people are eating while some inherited from their parents.
He also expressed the need for government to take drastic action to cushion the challenges they face in life.
According to him, the way people die as the result of the diabetes, special clinic need to be dedicated for people living with diabetics.
He further said for every 10 days he spend not less than N4,500 for drugs only and regular test with strip which looks like pen
