By Joke-Adeniyi Jackson
Head of Physiotherapy Department, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Dr. Raji Akinwale has described diabetes as a disease of civilization and western lifestyle.
He attributed western lifestyle to the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (mellitus), adding that healthy lifestyle is the cornerstone of treatment of the disease.
Featuring on a programme – ‘You and Your Health’, on Albarka FM, monitored in Ilorin, Kwara State, he called on Nigerians to imbibe the African way of maintaining healthy living.
He noted that western lifestyle, which include the eating of junk foods has increased the prevalence of people suffering from diabetes.
The doctor further noted that diabetes is not a disease that ordinarily should be common among black people.
“Diabetes from the epidemiological data is not a disease that is common among black people, it was more rampant among white people but because we (blacks), want to change our culture and lifestyle like foreigners by taking junks and living a casual way of life, that’s how the prevalence keeps increasing, ” he explained.
Akinwale, further explained that most of food consumed in this part of the world are either rich in poly saccharine or mono saccharite, which makes people susceptible to the disease.
He added that excessive intake of carbohydrate and alcohol are responsible for the high diabetes rate among Nigerians in recent time.
“I believe if we can go back to our normal way of life that is the African method of doing things, African food and all those things, the prevalence will come down and the quality of life will be better,” he further said.
Speaking on the topic “Diabetes, causes and prevention in our society,’ Akinwale said the disease occur when there is an increase in blood sugar level or absence of insulin.
According to him, diabetes is a chronic disease that can lead to diverse ailments in the body, which could lead to kidney damage, loss eye, among others.
He stated further that there are two types of diabetes, adding that Type one is congenital diabetes, which is hereditary and common among children from 18 and below while the second one is due to lifestyle and food intake.
“There is no cure for diabetes, you can manage it. There is no form of herbal medicine that can cure it. Though a life threatening disease, someone can live with it for life, if it is well managed so, the patient must be very careful,” he advised.
The medical doctor, however, advised people living with diabetes not to embark on self medication, which he said is very dangerous, urging them to follow strictly doctor’s drug prescription at all times.
