“We had a notion diabetes was a rich man’s disease but that was a myth, now we have more urban people coming up with diabetes in the urban areas,”
Diabetes is still a rich man's disease. Fact is, Ghanaians have becom ... read full comment
“We had a notion diabetes was a rich man’s disease but that was a myth, now we have more urban people coming up with diabetes in the urban areas,”
Diabetes is still a rich man's disease. Fact is, Ghanaians have become more affluent whether they admit it or not.
What is significant here is that urban dwellers are becoming more affluent and have richer diets.
Food security is no longer a problem among urban dwellers in Ghana.
Standards of living of urban dwellers have improved. I know this is not politically acceptable to a lot of Ghanaians but general standards of living in Ghana, especially amongst urban dwellers, has improved.
So an increase in the prevalence of diabetes amongst urban dwellers in Ghana is because a lot of Ghanaians can now afford rich diets.
As you can see, poor villages are not getting diabetes.
Ghanaians have graduated from the need for basic necessity to Dumsor poverty.
20 years ago, we were so hungry we would not even have noticed when the lights were off.
We are not in a good place but generally, standards of living have improved after President Rawlings.
And that includes both NPP and NDC led regimes. Admit it and don't be blinded by politics.
Glo 9 years ago
I believe the diabetes problem was worsened by the fact that most people are to following the bad diets (fast food) of the western world.
Eat controlled portions and carefully selected local foods which are rich in vegetabl ... read full comment
I believe the diabetes problem was worsened by the fact that most people are to following the bad diets (fast food) of the western world.
Eat controlled portions and carefully selected local foods which are rich in vegetables and are more nutritious than junk food which is influenced by western diets. Ghanaians always want to copy the western way of life even when it is detrimental. One thing we fail to forget is that, generally, health care is better in the western world. Exercising regularly also helps. Walk instead of driving if the distance is not great.
Believe it or not, Ghanaians are blessed with one of the best cuisines in the world. There is variety and it is nutritious.
Ken Ntiamoa 9 years ago
A lot of people wrongly think diabetes is a rich man's disease. Diabetes is anybody's disease. My grandmother who died in 1979, was diabetic for a long time before she passed away, and she was certainly not rich. Long time a ... read full comment
A lot of people wrongly think diabetes is a rich man's disease. Diabetes is anybody's disease. My grandmother who died in 1979, was diabetic for a long time before she passed away, and she was certainly not rich. Long time ago, many diseases afflicting Ghanaians, especially those in villages, were not diagnosed. Many died without us knowing what killed them. Some diabetic symptoms such as sores that never heal, were attributed to witches.
The fact is diabetes afflicts the young, old, rich and poor. Many staples in Ghana - cassava, yam, cocoyam and even plantain including our favourite fufu can cause diabetes.
Diabetes is also hereditary. If any of your parents/grandparents had it, you have a good chance of having it.
The rich have an advantage, in that they may have access to early diagnosis and medication to control the disease and may therefore live longer. But, in the final analysis, diabetes leads to other diseases such as kidney problems that will eventually kill you. In other words, if you don't die from diabetes itself, complications from diabetes can kill you.
Ken
Saint Ghfuo: Nyantakyi must go! 9 years ago
The less educated often engage in poor eating habits everywhere. It's even worse in poor economies or.during recessions
The less educated often engage in poor eating habits everywhere. It's even worse in poor economies or.during recessions
Tamaren 9 years ago
Ken Ntiamoah after reading your piece I reserve my comments because you have said it all and that also goes to tell you well educated on the sickness.Anyway let me add this in today's world no sickness is a death sentence Bp, ... read full comment
Ken Ntiamoah after reading your piece I reserve my comments because you have said it all and that also goes to tell you well educated on the sickness.Anyway let me add this in today's world no sickness is a death sentence Bp,Diabetes,Asthma,Cholesterol etc.are all no death sentences and you can get any of these and several others at any time any day any age but several things come into play.First of all the problem we had and still have in Ghana and Africa as a whole is that our healthcare is nothing to right home about progress has been made but we are not there yet because our Ambulance system is either bad or zero.2)Only few can afford regular check ups and even those that can afford will not go to to see a Dr until they are sick or things get worse or they will rather go to Osofo or fetish priest first so by the time they will decide to see a Dr or go to Korlebu things have gotten out of hand with no remedy in sight.3) All sicknesses we see today were all there with us but unfortunately we did not know so now that awareness has been created it looks like they are all new it's a big NO.From those days to today any Ghanaian is seen or believed to be strong and healthy till he or she dies or gets a stroke then we will read everything into it because the death or illness was caused by the old sister because naturally nobody dies a natural death in Ghana.When a white man abroad dies the question is what killed him but in Ghana the question is who killed him or let us go and find out who killed him from the Osofo at Edumfa or other Asofos or from the Malam,Fetish Priest etc.we have a long way to go.4)Now about diabetes there are two types of diabetes type 1 and type 2.now with type 1 the pancreas does not produce insulin at all which will make sugar to accumulate in the blood stream with type 2 the pancreas produces less insulin or the quality is not good enough to breakdown sugar you will either just tablets to regulate it or under serious situations need insulin injection to control only remember none of these are death sentences but you have to watch it and do the right things as directed by your Dr.4) Remember that BP,Diabetes,Asthma,Cholesterol,Glaucoma etc.are all not curable but treatable and manageable you can manage it and live to be 100 etc.5) There are several ways of getting all these sicknesses A.genetic B.old age because as we age the whole system slows down so the body become prone to several sicknesses especially after 50s,60,70s,80s etc.so always be ready for anything after 50s+ C.Life style tooo much alcohol intake,stressful life style,sleeplessness,weight gain,lack of exercise,too red meat and oil,too much sugar,smoking,your race especially black people are more prone to BP and diabetes etc.All these said it is not easy to manage all these if you are poor because you may not be able to afford regular check ups or buy medications etc.
“We had a notion diabetes was a rich man’s disease but that was a myth, now we have more urban people coming up with diabetes in the urban areas,”
Diabetes is still a rich man's disease. Fact is, Ghanaians have becom ...
read full comment
I believe the diabetes problem was worsened by the fact that most people are to following the bad diets (fast food) of the western world.
Eat controlled portions and carefully selected local foods which are rich in vegetabl ...
read full comment
A lot of people wrongly think diabetes is a rich man's disease. Diabetes is anybody's disease. My grandmother who died in 1979, was diabetic for a long time before she passed away, and she was certainly not rich. Long time a ...
read full comment
The less educated often engage in poor eating habits everywhere. It's even worse in poor economies or.during recessions
Ken Ntiamoah after reading your piece I reserve my comments because you have said it all and that also goes to tell you well educated on the sickness.Anyway let me add this in today's world no sickness is a death sentence Bp, ...
read full comment