Portion control key to preventing diabetes, Expert says

An US-based Clinical Dietician, Mrs. Adekemi Adejare, has called on Nigerians to pay attention to eating portion as a way of preventing diabetes in their lives. Speaking during the launching of her book titled ‘West African: Diet for Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes’, in Kaduna, she noted that many people do not believe that eating […]

An US-based Clinical Dietician, Mrs. Adekemi Adejare, has called on Nigerians to pay attention to eating portion as a way of preventing diabetes in their lives.

Speaking during the launching of her book titled ‘West African: Diet for Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes’, in Kaduna, she noted that many people do not believe that eating too much food leads to obesity and obesity leads to diabetes.

Adejare said, “Portion control, moderation, getting more water and making sure they eat more fibers in their diet is the first step to check the menace of diabetes.”

She added, “I am not saying do not eat your food, but pay attention to eating portion. Portion control, moderation, getting more water and making sure you eat more fibers in your diet.”

She advised that people should cut down on the amount of salt, sodium and sugary things you eat and drink saying, “lots of people drink their calories. Empty calories are gotten from Coke, and even juice. When you drink two glasses of juice and not eating is empty calorie.”

On what inspired her to write the book, she said, she “needed to help a friend’s mother who was diagnosed with diabetics because she did not want her to go into dialysis or end up having complications of eye disease and amputation of her leg.”

She said the book is a simple guide for the general population, especially those that have diabetes to help control their blood sugar and urged Nigerian’s already diagnosed with diabetes to watch what they eat and drink to live a healthier and longer life.

The chairman, Local Organizing Committee of the book launch, Mrs. Mary Aliu, said the uniqueness of the book is the ethnocentric approach by the author to the matter of diabetic dieting and nutrition.

“It is a common misconception that people with diabetes need special nutrients; these 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,” she said.