World diabetes day: Edo speaker advocates regular screening

The Speaker of Edo House of Assembly, Mr Francis Okiye, on Thursday advocated for regular blood screening for members of the public for early detection and control.

Okiye gave the advice during the launch of a one day free diabetes screening exercise to commemorate the world diabetes day in Benin.

The event which was organised by the Centre for Edo Delta Development Initiative (CEDDI) was to sensitise and create awareness to the danger of diabetes if not detected early.

Okiye explained that screening of blood to check the sugar levels was imperative because some people were either hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic.

According to him, Hyperglermia is when a sufferer of the disease has high blood sugar levels and hypoglycemia is when the sugar level is low.

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He noted that hypoglycemia was more dangerous and deadly adding that sufferers needed more sugar to boost their blood sugar levels.

“Interestingly, diabetes can be managed and treated with proper diet.

“There are currently over four million people living with diabetes and over two million are undiagnosed,” he said.

Okiye further called on the public to regularly check their blood sugar levels to address possible blood sugar diseases before they degenerate to a more complex ailment.

Chief Sam Igbe, the Iyase of Benin kingdom and founder of CEDDI, said that the event was to create awareness on the need for the public to go for regular diabetes screening.

According to Igbe, the Center is always open for free diabetes screening every first and last Saturday of every month.

(NAN)