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Momodou
Denmark
11790 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Jul 2007 : 22:21:37
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HEALTH AND NUTRITION BANTABA
DR ALIEU GAYE
PRESIDENT GAMBIA DIABETES ASSOCIATION
By Yaya Bajo
In this edition of Health and Nutrition Bantaba, we approached Dr. Alieu Gaye, President Gambia Diabetes Association at his Number 34 Hagan Street Clinic where he highlighted various topical issues on diabetes and the Association. Read on to find out what Dr. Gaye has said in the interview.
HNB: What is diabetes?
Dr. Gaye: Diabetes is a condition where there is excess sugar in the blood because of failure of the body does not produce sufficient quantities of insulin or the insulin produced does not work properly.
HNB: Does diabetes come in different forms in order words what are the different types of diabetes?
Dr. Gaye: There are two types, type one (1) and type two (2). Type 1, happens usually in young people in their teens or younger. It occurs because bodies produces antibodies of these individuals produce antibodies which destroy the pancreas. Insulin is required to sustain their lives. Type 2, tends to happen after the age of 40 and it tends to run in families (hereditary) and there are risk factors that give you diabetes. These are non-modifiable risk factors which include age and ethnicity and race and modifiable risk factors which include obesity, lack of physical activities, excess alcohol consumption, poor diet especially fatty-diet, urbanisation and urban life styles.
HNB: Which one is more common?
Dr. Gaye: Type 2 diabetes is the most common type in the world and 90% of diabetes cases in The Gambia is type 2. World Wide as at 2006, 246 million people were affected with diabetes and by 2025 it is expected to reach 380 million people and most of this increase will be in developing countries.
HND: What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes?
Dr Gaye: You should suspect you have diabetes when you start drinking a lot of water, eating a lot of food, passing a lot of urine and loosing weight.
HNB: Is diabetes treatable like other medical conditions?
Dr. Gaye: In the management and control of diabetes, we put a lot of emphasis on diet control, exercise for at least 30 minutes as WHO recommendation and medication.
HNB: The Gambia Diabetes Association has been in existence for sometime, can you dilate on it?
Dr. Gaye: The Gambia Diabetes Association was formed in 1991 and we have our executive board and General Assembly which meets annually. The main trust of the association is to increase awareness among the people affected with the disease. The awareness has been created; a lot of patients have been empowered through the education programmes. We now have a twinning programme with the Revtilingen Diabetes Association in Germany and they provide us with insulin test strips, and machines. We also celebrated 14 November each year as World Diabetes Day. The membership is open to all and the rate was revised from D5.00 to D25.00 annually.
HNB: What is the trend of diabetes cases in The Gambia, is it increasing or decreasing?
Dr. Gaye: Diabetes is increasing in The Gambia because in 1991 the prevalence was estimated to be 4%, but in 1996 a study was done and it was found to be 8.9% in Greater Banjul Area and 1.2% in the rural areas.
HNB: What could this sharp increase in diabetes cases in The Gambia be attributed to?
Dr. Gaye: The cause of the increase of diabetes cases could be attributed to sedentary life styles, excessive fat consumption and improved life expectancy.
HNB: What can be done to address the problem?
Dr. Gaye: One has to eat sensibly and avoid too much of sugary and oily foods. We put a lot of emphasis on vegetables and balance diet.
HNB: What would you like to say on a final note?
Dr. Gaye: There is extensive research going on, a lot of new therapies are coming out and we hope one day there would be a cure.
HNB: Thank you for sparing your time to share your knowledge with our readers.
Dr. Gaye: It is a pleasure.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 76/007, 2 – 3 July 2007
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