Experts Warn Against Diabetes Pandemic
By Florence Udoh
Daily Champion (Lagos)
15 August 2007
A pharmacist, Dr. Onyia Chijoke has enjoined Nigerians to change their life
styles and moderate their diets to avoid the looming worrisome dimension of the
attack of Diabetes mellitus (DM), which he noted is assuming a pandemic stage.
He said, among the non-communicable diseases, one of the most dynamic condition is DM, over which several giant strides are being made to check the scourge.
Chijoke who spoke recently, at a workshop organised by Pharmanews on 'current issues in diagnosis and monitoring of diabetes' in Lagos described diabetes as a significant, chronic disorder that is heterogeneous in nature, characterised by elevated blood sugar.
He also said it is an abnormal carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism, adding that, it is a syndrome that results from relative or absolute deficiency of insulin and syndromic.
The expert noted that, the disease is a leading cause of blindness in developed countries, noting that up to 24, 000 cases of vision loss yearly, are recorded due to the disease, while 55 to 65 per cent of diabetic would succumb to cardio or cerebro-vascular disease.
According to him, due to the alarming rate of the epidemic in the society today, it is necessary, he noted that "lifestyles have to be modified, diet have to be balanced and exercise be instituted," he warned.
He added that diabetic patients need to be educated on diabetic care, adding that, patients compliance has to be monitored by the pharmacist, nurse, dietician, doctor and other healthcare givers, to ensure positive patient outcomes.
He noted that diabetic care is now undertaken by a multidisciplinary team approach that focuses on collaboration with the patient to develop an individualised treatment plan and goals.
As a result, he said the need for hospitalisation will be reduced and the burden of the disease in the society at large will be minimised.
Chijoke there called for patient information, education and counseling, self-monitoring of blood glucose, symptomatology in hyper-and hypoglycemia and lifestyle modification.
Some of the areas he said education should be centered on include, women and should be given special healthcare needs, such as planning for a healthy pregnancy.
Healthy living series for people with type 2 diabetes, he noted is essential, for improved self-care behaviours and glycemic control, which should be the ultimate goals.
Copyright © 2007 Daily Champion. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com).
http://allafrica.com/stories/printable/200708160332.html
