Family physician at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Gloria Ani- Asamoah has explained how obesity is a primary cause of diabetes cases in Ghana.
Diabetes is a long-term metabolic illness marked by high blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. Serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves can result from diabetes over time.
As the prevalence of obesity increases at an alarming rate in many parts of the world, health professionals have revealed that type 2 diabetes can be brought on by an excessive quantity of body fat accumulation, and the risk of the disease rises linearly with body mass index. The simultaneous rise of obesity hence contributes massively to the incidence of type 2 diabetes in people.
Speaking on Radio Univer’s ‘Behind the Headline’ program, Dr. Ani-Asamoah revealed that more than 50% of the diabetes cases in Ghana were mostly due to obesity, with 50% of the cases going undocumented.
She urged people to get checked out on a regular basis to prevent issues associated with the onset of diabetes. According to her, early detection and treatment is key to reducing the disabling effects of diabetes on the individuals.
“If we are having people who have a BMI of less than 25, we are likely to reduce at least 50% of the case of diabetes because over 50% of diabetes is due to obesity. Most especially what I talk about is the central obesity, the fat that is around our stomach, that is where the insulin resistance occur. If you have abdominal fat or you measure your waist hip circumference and it is more than half of your height, you know that you have an increased risk of developing.”
“We should also not hesitate to screen ourselves. There are over 50% of people who have diabetes that do not know they have diabetes because they have not tested. Now we have the issue of prediabetes. These people may check their blood sugars and they may not get values that diagnose diabetes, but they are in the danger zone.”
Dr. Ani-Asamoah addressed the widespread misconception regarding diabetes, with emphasis on a person’s continual consumption of starchy foods rather than sugar-containing foods being a cause of diabetes.
“There are several misconceptions that people have about diabetes. Some people feel like if you have diabetes it is probably because a relative has it or it is because of something you did. Some people also believe that if you have diabetes, you mean that you are going to die so people really get scared and anxious when they have diabetes.”
“Some people say that it is only when you eat the food that contains sugar that you will get diabetes. When somebody comes to the water and check their blood sugar and it’s like, oh but I don’t even eat sugar I don’t eat anything containing sugar. It’s not sugar that gives you diabetes but any form of starchy food can lead to it.”
To lower their risk of developing diabetes, Dr. Ani-Asamoah is urging people to consume more plant-based meals and to take other preventative steps. She also called for increased awareness, and promotion of healthy life style, including exercising and general healthy living.
“We encourage people to have less carbohydrates, have adequate amount of protein and then have more vegetables. So plant-based food is the way to go. You need to increase the number of amount of vegetables you are having which is about 50% of your plate. The half of your plate should be made up of plant based foods then the other half you divide into two. So you have 25% protein, and the other 25% will take care of your carbohydrate. So we encourage more plant based food eating less of the fatty foods.”
The deliberation on the topic of diabetes was an initiative by the Accra Golden Lions Club to raise more awareness on the causes, effects, treatments and management of the chronic condition.
The Accra Golden Lions Club is a group of volunteers who are dedicated to serving the community with their abilities and talents.
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Story by: Michelle Lartey | univers.ug.edu.gh