Group Says Early Detection Key To Management Of Diabetes

The Chief Executive Officer of Save Our Heritage Initiative (SOHI), May Ikokwu, on Monday, stressed the importance of early testing and detection in the management of diabetes for normal living.

Ikokwu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the occasion of World Diabetes Day in Abuja.

According to her, the theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Access to diabetes Education’, which underpins the larger multi-year theme of ‘Access to Care.'

She advocated for preventive interventions, especially dieting, saying that diabetes could be triggered by diets.

Ikokwu, who described diabetes as the body’s ability or inability to produce the required amount of insulin to control glucose levels in the blood, said there are broadly two types of diabetes.

“According to Medical Experts, Type 1 requires daily administration of artificial insulin by means of injection or insulin pump.

“Type 2 is more generally managed by a combination of dietary control and medication in the form of tablets,” she said.

According to her, the replacement of most carbohydrates in a normal diet with vegetables is recommended.

She added: “Fonio (Digitaris exilis, a West African cereal), Tamarind, Moringa, Ewedu, Bitter leaf, and Baobab are types of African superfoods that can effectively reduce blood sugar and fight diabetes.”

Ikokwu also stressed the importance of maintaining good control of their conditions through regular monitoring of sugar levels in the body to avert diabetes, saying that the equipment is inexpensive and available at most pharmacies.

“It is important that development work continues, to ensure people with the condition can live as normal a life as possible.”

Ikokwu noted that the incidence rate of type 2 diabetes was 1.6, 4.3, 3.9, and 3.4 per 1,000 person-years for age groups of 18–29, 30–39, and 40–50 and the total sample, respectively.

“Diabetes can affect anyone irrespective of age with complications of blindness."