Experts list nutrition, plants, leaves that help in management of diabetes

A medical researcher and a trado-medical practitioner on Sunday said good nutrition and the use of plants and leaves would help in the treatment and management of diabetes.
The experts are Dr. Bamidele Iwalokun, the Head of Immunology and Vaccinology Research Department, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos; and Dr. Azeez Marcus, a trado-medical practitioner in Lagos.
The experts spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos ahead of the World Diabetes Day slated for November 14.
NAN reports that the theme for the Day is: “Eyes on Diabetes.”
The 2016 activities and materials will focus on promoting the importance of screening to ensure early diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes and treatment to reduce the risk of serious complications.
Iwalokun said: “Good nutrition and sharing of health information on diabetes are very important part of its management and treatment.
“Eating nutritious foods and balanced diet, blood sugar levels can be kept as close to normal as possible.
“Work up to at least 30 minutes a day because regular physical activity helps to manage diabetes.”
Iwalokun advised people with diabetes and their families to learn as much as possible about the latest medical therapies and approaches, as well as healthy lifestyle choices.
The medical researcher said good communication with a team of experts could help people with diabetes to control and respond to changing needs.
He said: “To keep blood glucose in a healthy range, both diabetes and eating disorders involve attention to body states, weight management, and control of food.
“Eating disorders are probably more common among women with diabetes than women who do not have diabetes.
“The rate of depression in people with diabetes is much higher than in the general population.
“Women experience depression about twice as often as men.
“The risk of depression increases in women with diabetes.
“Diabetes can be hard on women.
“The burden of diabetes on women is unique because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children.
“Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy, such as a miscarriage or a baby born with birth defects.
“Women with diabetes are also more likely to have heart attack at a younger age than women without diabetes.”
Iwalokun said that the key to a healthy pregnancy for a woman with diabetes was to keep blood glucose in the target range, both before and during pregnancy.
He said: “Diabetes is managed by keeping blood sugar under control and as close to normal as possible.
“A healthy range for people with diabetes is between 90 and 130 mg/dl before meals, and less than 180 mg/dl at one to two hours after a meal.”
In his comments, Marcus said diabetes could be effectively managed with the help of some natural medicines.
He said that there were numerous plants and leaves, which could help cure and control diabetes.
He said: “Culturally and traditionally, herbs and spices have long history of use in foods and its effect on health.
“It was discovered that many herbs and spices are rich in the antioxidant and can prevent damage and inflammation to tissues caused by high levels of blood sugar.
“Plant-based therapies that have been shown in some studies to have anti-diabetic properties include the use of aloe vera, bilberry extract, bitter melon, cinnamon, fenugreek, and ginger.”
According to Marcus, other local herbs, which can be found in Nigerian markets, are onions, bitter leave, scent leave garlic, curry leave, ginseng and turmeric.
He said: “Some plants are not commonly found in our local markets, but scent leave and bitter are always available.
“Using the two alone can reduce the sugar level in the blood stream.
“Inculcating those herbs and plants in one’s diet can reduce or totally control diabetes.”
NAN.