Diabetes affects all ages, race and sex, but can be detected on time through frequent medical check up.
Are you diabetic and restricted to a meal of beans and unripe plantain – a meal most Nigerians living with diabetes are made to believe is the only right food for them? This piece of news should be of interest to you. Experts say you can eat any food you can lay your hands on available to you even with your condition. There’s however a caveat: you must do so in moderation.
This was revealed yesterday by Dr. Femi Oyegbile, a Permanent Secretary with the Lagos State Ministry of Health, during the launch of the insulin support centre at the General Hospital, Ikorodu, Lagos state.
The Insulin Centre is a one-stop shop set up by Novo Nordisk, a global health care company with its headquarters in Denmark: The centre will see to the conducting of diabetes care training for the key stakeholders such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists and peer educators, as well as ensuring availability of insulin at GHI. All these are to ensure that insulin is sold at affordable price – lower than N50 for a day use while patients are educated on how to live healthier lives.
According to Dr. Oyegbile, living with diabetes is neither a death sentence nor a restriction to living life to the fullest. “With proper education about wellness; people living with diabetes can still live normal and healthier lives” he disclosed.
A Nigerian, Mrs. Grace Ayokanbi confirmed Dr. Oyegbile’s stance. Speaking in an exclusive interview with me yesterday, she revealed that for the past 50 years, she has been eating anything and living a normal life.
“I have been living with diabetes for the past 50 years and have been eating and living a normal life. I was born with the condition because I inherited it from my parents.
“There’s no food a diabetic patient cannot take, if he or she has the right information at the finger tips as education about wellness is paramount to living a rich and fulfilled life notwithstanding the condition.
“For instance, unlike the general belief out there, a diabetic can actually eat eba, semo or wheat but when this is eaten, it must be followed by physical activities so that he or she can use the energy at that particular time. But the physical activities must not be so strenuous. It could be cleaning, mopping, being active in the kitchen or washing. At least, do something to burn down that energy” she stated.
You can never guess that Mrs. Ayokanmi is diabetic as she looks so beautiful, radiant and full of life. She says the secret to her youthful radiance is arming herself with vital information about wellness and the health condition.
For instance, she reveals further that one of the most important things diabetics will do for themselves in order to live life to the fullest as she is doing, is taking a lot of vegetables, water and fruits. And of course rest!
Mrs. Ayokanbi, Nigerian living with diabetes from birth.
Records indicate that diabetes is emerging as the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) with strong link to a large number of cases of heart attacks and hypertension, especially among black people. The diabetes situation in Nigeria is not different from the global trend which shows that the condition kills one person every eight seconds.
According to experts, no fewer than 239 million Africans between the ages of 20 to 79 years would be diagnosed with diabetes come 2030, while a large number of these will be Nigerians. Unfortunately, a majority of people with diabetes in the country do not have access to treatment thus dying in silence while those who do, spend nothing less than 20,000 naira every month on medication. This is a major issue the Novo Nordisk insulin centre is addressing. According to the company’s Vice President, African Gulf and India, Mr. Mads Bo Larsen, “the centre targets low income earners living with the condition in order to alleviate the burden of affordability of their medication since insulin will be sold at very reduced rate in the centre. And this, with time, will be replicated all over the country”.
This ailment which does not discriminate against age, race and sex is responsible for no fewer than four million lives lost every year, no fewer than one million amputations done in a year as well as most of the manpower hour lost in most organizations worldwide. It is actually one of the major underlying causes of death among those living with other ailments. Worldwide, diabetes has been discovered to be one of the five major killers of humans at all age levels.
Mads Bo Larsen inaugurating the insulin centre at General Hospita Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria yesterday
There are three types of diabetes namely Type 1, type 2 and Gestational diabetes. The type 1 is characterized by destruction of the pancreatic beta cells leading to absolute insulin deficiency. Sufferers with this variety have an absolute lifelong requirement for insulin therapy and will develop diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) if not given insulin.
Its onset is usually before the age of 30 but may occur in any age group. Research for a cure for this form of diabetes is still on-going. The type 2 on the other hand, has an alarming rising prevalence rate over the last decade while this is predominantly linked to the trends in obesity and sedentary lifestyle. People living with this form of diabetes present a combination of varying degrees of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency which both contribute to this form of diabetes.
The clinical features of the type 2 form of diabetes can rise through genetic or environmental influences making it difficult to determine the exact cause in patients individually. Quite different from these earlier mentioned two; gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy, the reason for its name. Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how the sufferers cells use sugar (glucose) Ñ the bodys main fuel. Gestational diabetes causes high blood sugar that can affect pregnancy and a babys health.
In gestational diabetes, blood sugar usually returns to normal soon after delivery. But anyone who has had gestational diabetes is at risk for future type 2 diabetes. Such one will need to continue working with her health care provider to monitor and manage her blood sugar. For most women, gestational diabetes doesnt cause noticeable signs or symptoms. Rarely, gestational diabetes may cause excessive thirst or increased urination.
Are you diabetic and want to live a more robust life? Novo Nordisk, provider of the Insulin centre at GHI advice you:
- You eat your breakfast , lunch and dinner early, while the latter must be eaten before 7.30pm
- You exercise at least for 10 to 15 minutes before going to bed
- .Always keep your feet clean
- Dry feet well especially in between your toes
- Check under your feet regularly
- If you can see under your feet, check with a mirror or get someone to check for you
- Never cut corns or use sharp objects on your feet
- Avoid wearing long boots
- Avoid tight socks
- Avoid high shoes with no support
- Avoid extreme heat
- Never put your feet near open heart
- Never walk bare foot
- Wear well fitting flat shoes.
No comments:
Post a Comment