EPISODE 2: SPIRITUAL ATTACK OR DIABETES? WHY NIGERIANS MISDIAGNOSE THEMSELVES
How many Nigerians are treating medical emergencies like spiritual battles?
For years, Baba Kudi interpreted the stubborn wound on his leg as a spiritual affliction. Like many Nigerians, he connected prolonged illnesses with unseen forces. But medical experts warn that misinterpretation often delays life-saving treatment.
According to his former apprentice, who served under him during school holidays, “He refused to go to the hospital. He believed someone was attacking him.”
But after witnessing the worsening condition of the wound, the young man consulted a clinician on his behalf. The medical advice he received was clear:
The symptoms were consistent with diabetes— not a spiritual attack.
Diabetes often progresses silently, especially among older adults who do not undergo routine testing. Nigeria’s low public awareness means many cases remain undiagnosed until complications escalate.
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Health experts estimate that millions of Africans, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas, continue to manage diabetes unknowingly, attributing symptoms to traditional beliefs instead of seeking medical evaluation.
The World Health Organization(WHO) warns that diabetes is one of the most underdiagnosed chronic diseases globally. Without early detection, patients can develop severe complications including infections, organ damage, and limb loss.
In Nigeria, millions walk this same path— unaware, untreated, and unprotected.
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