Mr. Eric Bentil, a diabetic patient, died two years ago. After battling diabetes for several years, doctors amputated his leg, leading to his death. Despite receiving medication throughout his illness, doctors eventually recommended the amputation of his leg. After the successful operation, one would assume he would live longer. Regrettably, he passed away just a few months following the amputation of his leg.
In our settings, most people believe those who have diabetes love sugar and/or “sweets.”
However, Mr. Bentil never enjoyed sugar; he rarely ate “sweets,” which led us to question the real situation.
Although we rarely observed him eating raw sugar, we frequently observed him consuming large amounts of carbohydrates and eating late.
The question is: as ordinary people who do not have the spectacles of doctors, how could we tell these eating habits could cause him a lot?
According to WHO, Diabetes is one of the four major types of noncommunicable diseases: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases. It is a chronic condition that occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it does produce. Insulin, a hormone, controls the blood sugar (glucose) a person consumes from their food. Diabetes therefore results in raised blood sugar levels, which, if not controlled, over time lead to serious damage to many of the body’s systems.
Studies have revealed that in Africa, about 24 million adults are currently living with diabetes, with that number predicted to swell by 129% to 55 million by 2045.
According to studies done in Ghana, the prevalence of diabetes ranges from 2.6% to 9%, with health facilities reporting an average of 200,000 cases each year.
In an interview with a naturopathic doctor at Chaba Orthopedic and Herbal Centre, Dr. Yussif Kalifu, he explained the causes of diabetes, which included poor eating habits, especially consuming a lot of fried foods, taking a lot of red meat, excessive alcohol intake, smoking, and a lack of exercise, among others.
Dr. Yussif Kalifu noted that 1 out of 6 individuals with diabetes pass away every second, indicating that the condition is more severe than it first appears.
Meanwhile, he noted that most individuals tend to overlook signs and symptoms, and even when they do, they tend to disregard them until they escalate.
He urged the public to eat well, eat a lot of vegetables, avoid late eating, do a lot of exercise, and avoid carbonated drinks, sugar, and the rest to prevent themselves from getting the diseases.
In an interview with Dr. Deborah Amakye, a medical practitioner at Champion Divine Hospital, she described diabetes as a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, which can lead to damage to many organs in the body.
She said diabetes can affect the eyes, the kidneys, the heart, and the nerves, describing it as burdensome.
She cited the WHO, which indicates that the prevalence is about 422 million people who are suffering from diabetes, while 1.5 million people die every year.
Dr. Deborah Amakye added that about 7.5 percent of Ghana’s population, or about 2.4 million people, suffer from diabetes.
Types
She discussed types one and two of diabetes, as well as gestational diabetes.
Talking of the symptoms of type 1, she mentioned weight loss, polyuria, polydipsia, vaginal discharge, slow wound healing, easy fatigability, and blurred vision, among others.
Regarding type 2, she stated that the high incidence rate of obesity worldwide, including in Ghana, accounts for 9 out of 10 cases of type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Deborah Amakye stated that many people are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes due to their diet and lack of exercise.
She said the symptoms of type 2 diabetes are similar to those of type 1, with the exception that those who have it gain weight.
“This is because with type 2, you produce an amount of insulin, but it is not enough to break down the blood circulating insulin, and so it converts into fat, and when it converts into fat, it brings weight gain. You will drink water frequently, urinate often, if you get a sore, it will not heal fast, you easily get tired, you can experience numbness, and it leads to the amputation of the legs,” she stated.
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Prevention
When asked about how to prevent diabetes, Dr. Deborah Amakye said we have to start with proper dieting.
“We have to start with our diet. In Ghana, most of our food is carbohydrate, but we have to focus more on the fibers than the processed sugars, processed drinks, carbonated drinks, or raw sugar; we are supposed to ignore them or minimize them. Or we can eat more fiber-based carbohydrates like potatoes, yam, or cassava; they help the human body,” she said.
Dr. Deborah Amakye also preached about frequent exercise and proper eating habits.
“Ghanaians do not exercise because of our lifestyle and activities, and most Ghanaians eat late at night. You can eat it when you are hungry, but it has to be fruits, vegetables, or salad without cream or any fatty component on it. You can also take light soup with dry fish because its digestion or processing is very easy. Instead of fatty foods and all, you can switch to scrimps, mushrooms, crab, or go to the seafood side; it can also help,” she stated.
As a practitioner, she observed that some patients arrived at the hospital with various complaints, unaware of their condition until they underwent testing.
When asked if diabetes can be cured, she answered that for type 2 diabetes, it can be cured, while type 1 can only be managed.
For type one diabetes, she explained that the damaged beta cells, unable to produce insulin, offer a 50 percent chance of recovery.
Meanwhile, she urged those who experience the symptoms to quickly visit the hospital for immediate medical attention.
Dr. Deborah Amakye also advocated for regular checkups to facilitate early detection and medical attention.
Writer’s Take
Despite the scary nature of diabetes per the description given by the experts, it appears more people do not pay attention to the disease, and this could blow out of proportion if care is not taken.
While the government has implemented various strategies to combat diabetes, it seems that the focus on diabetes, a non-communicable disease, is not as significant as it is on communicable diseases, despite the fact that communicable diseases can cause significant harm and require significant attention.
Despite the large number of affected individuals, the situation remains alarming, requiring both the government and the people to remain vigilant before it escalates beyond control.
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Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
