Madam Rose Adinyira, Principal Nursing Officer at the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital (ENRH) in the Western Region has bemoaned the high increase in type 2 diabetes cases in the region.
She disclosed that 435 cases with 49 amputations were recorded in 2019 while 274 cases with 34 amputations were recorded in 2020 as at the end of the 3rd quarter at the Hospital.
She defined Type 2 diabetes in children as a chronic disease that affects the way a child’s body processes sugar (glucose) and without treatment, the disorder causes sugar to build up in the blood, which can lead to serious long-term consequences.
Madam Adinyira who made the remark on Spice Fm’s “Adzekye Mu Nsem” show in commemoration of World Diabetes Day celebration called on parents to encourage their children to eat healthy foods, get plenty of physical activity and maintain a healthy weight.
Madam Adinyira therefore called on parents to encourage their children to eat healthy foods, get plenty of physical activity and maintain a healthy weight.
“Offer your child foods low in fat and calories, focus on fruits, vegetables and whole grains and strive for variety to prevent boredom. Encourage your child to become active or look for active things to do together”, she encouraged.
Sister Comfort Arthur, Health Promotion Officer at the Holy Child Catholic Hospital on her part said uncontrolled type 2 diabetes can lead to chronically high blood glucose levels, causing several symptoms and potentially leading to serious complications.
She lamented on our eating habits as a nation and urged Ghanaians to include foods rich in fiber and healthy carbohydrates in their diet, adding that eating fruits, vegetables and whole grains will help keep our blood glucose levels steady.
On prevention, she said simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes and to help prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications, people should achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
She hinted that health impacts of diabetes are that over time, it can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves while combined with reduced blood flow, neuropathy (nerve damage) in the feet increases the chance of foot ulcers, infection and eventual need for limb amputation.
Mr Emmanuel Reinfred Okyere, Western Regional Director of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) allayed the fears that the Scheme does not cover the treatment of diabetes and its allied illness.
He therefore called on the public, especially diabetic patients to renew their memberships if expired and if not members yet, should register as a matter of urgency to visit the hospitals so that the Scheme can take care of their cost for treatment.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
