A Consultant in Family and Lifestyle Medicine, Dr. Moyosore Makinde, has called for empowering individuals with knowledge and tools to prevent diabetes through evidence-based lifestyle interventions, stressing the importance of conscious health decisions.
Makinde, who is also President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg), made the remarks in an interview with reporters on Friday in Lagos, highlighting strategies to combat diabetes. She spoke on the sidelines of the 2025 World Diabetes Day (WDD) commemoration, themed “Diabetes Across Life Stages,” emphasizing that public awareness is critical for prevention, early diagnosis, and effective management nationwide.
World Diabetes Day is observed annually on November 14 to raise awareness about the health impact of diabetes and promote measures for prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Makinde decried the growing prevalence of diabetes, noting that the surge could be mitigated through healthy nutrition, regular physical activity, and lifestyle interventions that reduce risk and improve overall population health.
“A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report shows more than 24 million African adults aged 20 to 79 are living with diabetes, with projections suggesting the number could rise to 60 million by 2050. In Nigeria, WHO estimates the prevalence of diabetes at 4.3 per cent, largely linked to lifestyle changes associated with urbanization, including sedentary habits and poor diet,” she said.
She highlighted that diabetes is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cancer, high blood pressure, obesity, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, and other health complications that affect quality of life nationwide.
Makinde stressed the pivotal role of lifestyle and diet in preventing diabetes, urging Nigerians to adopt preventive medicine practices to maintain health and reduce long-term risks of chronic diseases. She recommended regular physical activity and conscious eating habits, paying attention to meal quantity, timing, and nutritional quality to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
“Limit high-calorie diets that contribute to obesity and insulin resistance. Regular exercise, avoiding sedentary habits, reducing alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking are key preventive measures. Even simple activities like walking or jogging around your home can help maintain fitness and reduce diabetes risk over time,” she said.
Makinde advised individuals to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, equivalent to 30 minutes daily, to maintain a healthy body and lower diabetes risk effectively.
On government interventions, she recommended increasing taxes on high-sugar drinks while reducing levies on low- or no-sugar beverages to discourage excessive consumption of high-calorie products. She also advocated for public health education via social media platforms, podcasts, radio, and television to promote preventive lifestyle measures across all age groups.
Makinde further emphasized the need for spacious school playgrounds to encourage physical activity and reduce childhood obesity, alongside affordable healthcare to support early screening, treatment, and management of diabetes nationwide.
