DIABETES: EXPERT CANVASSES EARLY SCREENING & PREVENTIVE MEASURES

REPORTER: UCHE NEDEKE

Diabetes is said to be one of the leading causes of kidney failure and blindness across the globe.

This occurs as a result of long term damage to the small blood vessels in the body.

A Public Health Expert, Mrs. Adaku Egoh, stated this while speaking with Radio Nigeria on this year’s World Diabetes Day in Awka, Anambra State.

Mrs. Egoh said the early warning signs of diabetes, included frequent urination, unusually increased thirst, constant hunger, unusual weight loss, blurred vision, extreme fatigue, cuts or bruises that are slow to heal.

She further pointed out that “diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease which is heart disease and stroke,
Combined with reduced blood flow, nerve damage (Neuropathy) in the feet, which increases the risk of foot ulcers, infections and eventual lead to limb amputation.”

According to Mrs. Egoh, the earlier a person is diagnosed, the earlier treatment can be initiated in order to reduce the risk of harmful and costly complications.

She noted that a person with type 2 diabetes can live for many years without showing any symptoms, during which high blood glucose is silently damaging the body.

Mrs. Ego who is the Head, Non Communicable Diseases Unit in the Department of Public Health and Disease Control, Anambra State Ministry of Health, noted the urgent need to screen, diagnose and provide appropriate treatment to people with diabetes.

The Public Health expert further noted that diabetes could be prevented by adopting simple and healthy lifestyle, including maintaining healthy body weight, indulging in physical fitness like brisk walks and jogging, eating healthy diet with more of vegetables and fruits and less of sugar and saturated fats, reducing alcohol intake and avoiding tobacco use.

The theme for the 2023 celebration is “Acess to Diabetes Care; know your risk, know your response.”

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU