By Stephen Adeleye
Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja, on Monday, sensitised the general public on discovery, prevention and management of diabetes, as part of activities marking the 2022 World Diabetes Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Medical Consultants at the hospital sensitised the staff members, patients and the general public on various topics under this year’s theme: ”Diabetes Education to Protect Tomorrow”.
Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Olatunde Alabi, said that the essence of the sensitisation was for participants to protect their tomorrow on diabetes.
He maintained that diabetes could be managed if detected early and that such patients could live a normal life, stressing that ”diabetes is not a death sentence.”
The Coordinator, Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Kogi chapter, Dr Adewole Adesanya, said the day was to create awareness on diabetic conditions, as education was key to reducing the desease.
Adesanya, who is a Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist, said, ”more than 500 million people worldwide are living with diabetes, and in about 20 years time, it would have been increased to 700 million.”
He added that one out of every nine people would have diabetes by 2030, according to the International Diabetic Federation (IDF).
The doctor, who said that the treatment of diabetes was very expensive, stressed the need for government to subsidise it.
Adesanya appealed to governments at all levels to ensure that their citizens have access to necessary drugs and care for the treatment of diabetes.
The consultant urged the people to engage in moderate-intensity aerobic activities, that is, anything that can get the heart to beat faster for, at least, 150 minutes a week.
A Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Godwin Tijani, who spoke on ”Diabetes and Women Health”, advised diabetic women to see doctors before getting pregnant, to avoid complications.
According to Tijani, if any woman gets pregnant without doctor’s certification, it can affect her and the baby and can result in abortion, congenital malfunction and overweight, among others.
On his part, Dr Ayodele Ogunmola, a Urologist, who spoke on ”Diabetes and Men Health”, said diabetes, if not properly managed, could lead to various kinds of cancer, especially prostate cancer.
He explained that prostate remained the most common cancer and second commonest cause of cancer deaths among men, saying that the sensitisation was a way of reducing the burden on people.
According to him, any man who has lower urinary track symptoms, such as frequent urination, voiding or obstructive urine or post-urination dribbling should see a urologist.
He also stressed the need for regular screening, at least, once in a year, to discover prostate cancer, especially among men above age 40.
Speaking on ”Diabetes and the Eyes”, Dr Samuel Ocheni, a Consultant Ophthalmologist, said that the disease had the capacity to affect the eyes.
The ophthalmologist called for prompt and regular checkup of the eyes on yearly basis, so that any defect detected could be easily detected and treated.
NAN reports that other experts also spoke on topics like ”Diabetes Dietary Management” and ”Diabetes Foot Care.”
NAN also reports that more than 100 people, including the staffers, patients and residents, were screened for blood sugar, blood pressure and weight, among others.
Mrs Titilayo Ajibade, 59, a diabetic patient for over 10 years, thanked the management and staffers of the hospital for enlightening them more on how to properly manage their health. (NAN)
