As the world marks World Diabetes Day on November 14, residents of Gombe State have been urged to adopt healthy eating habits, exercise regularly and undergo routine blood sugar checks to prevent diabetes and its complications.
The advice was given by a Senior Registrar in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Dr Tarangna Ali Buba, who said maintaining a healthy diet did not necessarily require spending heavily, despite the prevailing economic challenges.
Ali said people could make their meals healthier by reducing carbohydrate consumption and incorporating affordable foods such as vegetables, cucumber and spinach, alongside protein.
He said, “Eating healthy does not necessarily mean spending a lot of money. Even with the current economic situation, people can make their meals healthier by reducing the quantity of carbohydrates they consume and adding affordable vegetables such as cucumber and spinach, alongside protein.”
The doctor also advised residents to reduce their consumption of sugary drinks, refined foods and other products with high sugar content, while making regular physical activity part of their daily routines.
He expressed concern over the growing burden of diabetes, noting that many people were living with the condition without knowing their status, while others only discovered it after developing serious health complications.
According to him, excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger and unexplained weight loss are among the warning signs that should prompt individuals to seek medical attention.
“Anybody experiencing these symptoms should visit a hospital for blood sugar testing rather than waiting until the condition becomes complicated,” he said.
Ali warned that poorly managed diabetes could damage vital organs, including the eyes, kidneys, heart and nerves, potentially resulting in blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and, in severe cases, limb amputation.
However, he reassured people living with diabetes that they could lead near-normal lives if they adhered to medical advice, took their prescribed medications and maintained proper blood sugar control.
He urged families and communities to support people living with the condition rather than stigmatise them, stressing that diabetes should not be a basis for discrimination.
He also appealed to governments and well-meaning individuals to assist patients who could not afford their medications, particularly those dependent on insulin to manage the condition.
The doctor further highlighted the interventions of Sparkling Initiative, a non-governmental organisation implementing a programme known as Living Actively with Diabetes to support people living with the condition in Gombe State.
He said the programme organised weekly activities every Saturday at Kenedy Academy between 10am and 12pm, offering participants health education, blood sugar and blood pressure checks, medical consultations and practical guidance on physical exercise.
Ali encouraged residents, particularly those living with diabetes, to take advantage of the initiative to improve their health and access professional guidance.
This year’s World Diabetes Day is being marked under the theme, “Early Action on Diabetes,” with emphasis on early detection, timely treatment and improved management of the condition to prevent complications and save lives.