Diabetes: Avoid self-medication, sedentary lifestyle – NMA Chairman

Nigerians have been advised to stop self-medication and be wary of those selling drugs that can allegedly cure many diseases. This piece of advice was given by the Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State Chapter, Dr. Adekunle Ashimi while featuring on the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Ogun State radio station, FUNAAB Radio 89.5FM live interactive programme, Boiling Point in commemoration of the 2022 World Diabetes Day. According to him, diabetes is one of the silent-killer diseases, saying it does not have a cure, but can be controlled with a word for the people to regularly go for medical check-ups to know their health status.
“Some of the symptoms of diabetes are impaired eyes, kidney problems, non-feeling of sensation as well as having injuries that won’t heal in time and also contracting infections easily while some won’t have those symptoms at all and it will be killing them silently. That is why we need to regularly go for check-ups”, he stated. The NMA chairman reiterated that Nigerians needed to regularly examine their blood sugar and level and avoid sedentary lifestyle, urging them to eat healthy foods, avoid alcohol and embrace a lifestyle that would make the country a diabetes-free nation. “Healthy eating is very important, avoid alcohol and stop smoking, which are injurious to your health”, he advised. Dr. Ashimi equally urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of health insurance where they can pay little to have access to good medical treatment, adding that the habit of not going to the hospital for check-ups should be discouraged.