Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday, blamed lack of education in managing diabetes for the reason many patients die untimely. Obasanjo spoke, during a novelty match between All-Stars FC, Abeokuta and the ex-Super Eagles, organized by the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, as part of activities marking this year’s World Diabetes Day. Obasanjo, who has been living with diabetes for over 40 years, stressed that the disease is incurable, but it can be managed.
According to him, a patient can live up to 100 years if he or she adheres strictly to the “dos and don’ts of diabetes.
“The problem of diabetes is a problem of knowledge and education: knowledge to know that it is not a curable disease, but a manageable disease,” Obasanjo said.
“I was diagnosed with diabetes 40 years ago, and I am still fit and active. But there were people who were diagnosed, and within five years, they died. The difference is education, lack of education, or carelessness, not managing the disease.
“So, the theme for me is ‘Education for Management.’ You can live up to any age, and in any case, none of us is 100 percent well. We are all carrying one illness or another.
“Knowing what you should do and what you should not do; knowing what you should eat and what you should not eat, and doing everything in moderation matter.
“As a diabetic person, you must not take sugar. Any carbohydrate, you take it moderately, once you know that and you go by it, you are fine.”
