Victor EzejaA medical expert, Dr Ifeanyi Ugo Godwin, has advised Nigerians to adopt lifestyle modification as a preventive measure to certain debilitating diseases such as diabetes.
Dr Ifeanyi Ugo Godwin, a Medical Director and Public Health Consultant at Healing Stripes Hospital, Lagos, made the call during the second edition of Prime Business Africa’s ‘Health & Business Series of seminars’ held via X space on Monday, 22nd July 2024.
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Dr Godwin, who expressed concern that many Nigerians are not yet ready for preventive medicine, said it is high time they began to do so because the country does not have a functional healthcare system.
He said diabetes remains a major public health problem, and can be effectively prevented, reversed (at early stage) or managed through public health awareness creation on healthy lifestyle changes, capacity building of the health workers and also improving the capacity level of the care for diagnosis, treatment and support.
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He observed that lifestyle changes such as having good diet, physical activities to maintain healthy weight and normal blood sugar are things anyone can adopt to avert certain diseases like diabetes or reduce drug consumption when one already has some complications.
“Healthy diet is one of lifestyle changes that anyone could adopt. Balanced diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, proteins, and healthy fats which can maintain a healthy weight and maintain their blood level, and regular physical activities. We must engage in walking, jogging, swimming, and cycling. We have known that this improves insulin sensitivity and will help you maintain a healthy diet,” Dr Godwin stated.
He explained that diabetes is a disease that is characterised by the inability of the body to regulate blood sugar which often leads to high level and the attendant metabolic consequences.
Diabetes has Types 1 and 2.
According to him, Type 2 diabetes has assumed an epidemic dimension in the developing world.
“Type 2 diabetes can be prevented and managed and in some cases, can be reversed,” he said.
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The World Health Organisation estimates that about 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, with the majority living in low-and middle-income countries, and 1.5 million deaths directly attributed to diabetes each year.
Another WHO estimate says the prevalence of diabetes in Nigeria is about 4.3 per cent and is largely attributed to the lifestyle changes caused by urbanisation and its results; industries producing unhealthy diets including sugar-sweetened drinks, lack of exercise, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol.
Dr Godwin, who holds a PhD in Public Health, said there was a study in 2016 which discovered that 24 hours glucose control by the body can happen when one engages in a 20-minute exercise. He added that the researchers also found out that there is another pathway whereby glucose level can be lowered during exercise without involving insulin.
“You must maintain a healthy weight. That is very crucial. A little drop in weight will improve your diabetic figures,” the medical expert further stated.
He warned that people should avoid smoking because it also increases the risk of diabetes complications.
He also stressed the need for regular medical checkup, adding that people need to know their status always and should not go for health checks only when they are ill.
Stressing that early detection is key in effective management of diabetic problems, he said: “If you can detect a pre-diabetic person, in that condition, he is not diabetic, but he is coming very close to becoming diabetic, you can apply measures to make him not to get to that diabetic stage for the rest of his life. That means early detection and timely intervention is key.”
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He urged those with family history of diabetes to monitor themselves and loved ones regularly for signs.
He also revealed that regular eating and maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, which is common in this digital age, can lead to obesity which is also a high risk factor for diabetes when sustained for long time, therefore reinforcing the need for regular physical activities.
According to him, “Health management include medical, lifestyle modification, dietary adjustment and steady physical activities like exercise to maintain normal blood sugar level and lose weight as well.”
Speaking on treatment, the medical expert said there are supplements that people can use to effectively manage diabetic complications.
He said when detected, diabetic condition can be reversed with effective medical and lifestyle measures but when it has stayed for more than 10 years may not be totally reversed. “That is why early detection is very important,” he noted.
He revealed that Type 1 diabetes is mostly suffered by children as a result of inability of the body system to produce insulin that regulates blood sugar, thereby needing insulin replacement.
He warned against the use of herbal substances in treating diabetes, because they have not been subjected to clinical trials to determine what active ingredients in them that cure certain diseases.
He also highlighted the need for creation of awareness among people about diabetes prevention and management.
Commenting on the level of access to treatment of diabetes in Nigeria, he said the country’s healthcare system needs to be restructured to guarantee efficiency in healthcare delivery.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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