Friday, November 19, 2010

LIVING WITH DIABETES IN RURAL AREA- SUBSAHARAN AFRICA PERSPECTIVE.

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Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder in which the individual lacks the ability to control normal metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and fats, due to absence or partial activity of Insulin.
Over the years, many theories and practices have emanated towards alleviating this condition. Ranging from orthodox medical approach to trado-medical practices. It is even worthy of note that some traditional healers or herbal doctors make bold to say they have gotten cure. I however, have not seen anybody who is totally cured, hence in my practice as a diabetes Educator, I constantly remind my patients that there is no cure yet but it can be managed. With all these chaos of medical practice, the person who suffers most are those living with the condition, especially those in rural area.
The information and practice of medical practitioners in rural area is in most cases at parallel to what is obtainable in cities. For instance in rural area of sub-Saharan Africa, many patients are being told not to eat anything containing carbohydrate but to concentrate on proteins in form of beans. I have met people who thrive on beans three times daily for nearly 5 to 10 years for the period of their encounter with diabetes. This makes life unpalatable, uninteresting and not fun.
Persons living with diabetes should be encouraged to balance their meals around the food classes of carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, fibres and roughages inform of vegetables, unsaturated fats and fruits. These food items are commonly available in our environment, the challenge is patronage. Like the saying by Dr Joslin in 1934 “Diabetics who knows the most, live longer and healthier”.
The importance of diabetes education both to patients living in rural area and cities cannot be overemphasized. Our traditional methods of information dissemination like ‘town criers’, market places, churches, mosques, community meetings should be exploited even drama in local languages needs to be encouraged as a means of improving and empowering those living with diabetes.

1 comment:

  1. people in rural area with a lot of technological disadvantages must be encouraged to know that Living Diabetes is not a death sentence.

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