Diabetes – Expert recommends regular screening
NAN-HG-4
Diabetes
By Talatu Maiwada
Abuja, Nov.14, 2016 (NAN) Dr Ogugua Osi-Ogbu, Consultant Physician Geriatrician at the National Hospital, Abuja, says regular screening for diabetes is crucial in ensuring early diagnosis and treatment, thereby reducing the risk of serious complications.
Osi-Ogbu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja in commemoration of the World Diabetes Day.
According to her, diabetes is a common chronic condition where the body cannot convert enough blood sugar (glucose) into usable energy.
She said diabetes was a growing burden in the country and a multi-systemic disease that was not curable, but highly controllable hence the need for early diagnosis.
“Screening for diabetes complications is an essential part of managing all types of diabetes.
“One in two people with diabetes remains undiagnosed, which makes them particularly susceptible to the complications of the condition, causing substantial disability and premature death.
“Delayed diagnosis means that many people with type 2 diabetes will suffer from at least one complication by the time they are diagnosed with diabetes.
“Some of such complications are blindness, stroke, kidney failure and amputation of the lower-limb,’’ she said.
The consultant said that early detection and timely treatment of diabetes could prevent vision loss and reduce the impact of the disease on individuals, their careers and society at large.
Osi-Ogbu said 70 per cent of type 2 diabetes cases could be prevented or delayed by adopting healthy lifestyle, stressing that maintaining life style recommended by a physician is key in managing the condition.
“The management of diabetes involves a lot of education for the patients and their care givers particularly on eating habits like qualitative food such as fruits, vegetables and less of starch.
“Lifestyle modification such as dieting and compliance with medication is indeed a big part of the management of diabetes in all patients.
“We recommend complex starches like yam, potatoes which goes through a break down process compared to drinking a bottle of coke which the sugar goes quickly into the blood stream.
“I tell my patients, you have to confront this disease like a general at war,’’ the consultant added.
Osi-Ogbu further described diabetes as a metabolic condition that could result from a reduction of the insulin level in the blood.
She said excessive blood glucose in diabetic patients produced symptoms like frequent urination, excessive thirst, hunger and weight loss.
However, she noted that Type 1 diabetes was more common in children, stressing that the body immune system gradually destructs insulin producing cells of the pancreas.
The consultant listed symptoms of Type 1 diabetes as extreme thirst, blurred vision and infections, among others.
She added that Type 2 diabetes was predominantly a lifestyle disorder and was highly associated with obesity, lack of exercise, unhealthy diet or due to family history.
The nutritionist also advised those susceptible to diabetes to avoid excessive alcohol intake and abstinence from smoking.
Osi-Ogbu stressed that the screening and management of diabetes and its complications in all primary healthcare centres across the country was important in achieving optimal health and a healthy society.
NAN reports that the 2016 World Diabetes Day has its theme as “Eyes on Diabetes’’.
It seeks to promote the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the risk of serious complications.
The World Diabetes Day is commemorated on Nov. 14, annually. (NAN)
TIM/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola