Proper nutrition key to prevent, manage diabetes – Dietician



An American based clinical dietician, Mrs. Adekemi Adejare, has urged for proper nutrition containing the right foods in the right combinations as preventive measure and solution to diabetes.
Addressing the launch of her book; “West African: Diet for the Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia or High Cholesterol on Thursday in Kaduna, she said that diabetes can lead to failure of kidney and other vital organs, eye defect and amputation of limbs if not properly managed.


She said that the book is designed as a simple guide for everyone. To help those that have diabetes control their blood sugar and to help those with prediabetes or insulin resistance to modify their diets and prevent the progression of the disease to diabetes and to help all maintain healthy weight. 


Speaking on the correlation between food and diabetes, Adekemi said that lots of people don’t believe that when they eat too much food it leads to obesity, and obesity leads to diabetes; adding that these were the things that people need to pay attention to.
“I am not saying don’t eat your food, but pay attention to eating portion. Portion control, moderation, getting more water, making sure you eat more fibres in your diet.  Cutting down on the amount of salt and sodium, cutting down on the amount of sugary things you eat and drink.
“Lots of people drink their calories. Empty calories are gotten from coke, and even juice. When you drink two glasses of juice while not eating is empty calory,” she cautioned.


According to the dietician, her inspiration to write the book stems from her passion to help especially after seeing lots of people dying from diabetes. She added that her effort to help her girlfriend’s mother, who was in stage four of diabetes and she did not want her to go into dialysis or end up having problems of complications of eye disease and amputation of her leg also contributed to her decision to write the book.
Chairman of the occasion and a nutrition specialist from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr Muyiwa Owolabi, said that life expectancy in Nigeria is quite low at around 55 compared to other countries which ranged from 72 to 103. “This is die to health issues of which diabetes is leading. The book will help Nigerians a lot in making choices of healthy foods to eat.”


Chairman, Local Organizing Committee on presentation of the book, Mrs. Mary Aliu, said the book is unique due to the ethnocentric approach by the author to the issue of diabetes, dieting and nutrition. “It is a common misconception that people with diabetes need special nutrients, this may not be applicable in all cases, as the foods that are nutritious for everyone are just as essential for a diabetic person as for the non-diabetics.”

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