Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he has been managing diabetes for the past 35 years, a disease that he said killed some of his friends.
Obasanjo lamented that many of his friends died of diabetes because they were unable to manage the disease.
The former President said this on Wednesday during the closing ceremony of the Ogun State Diabetes Youth Development Camp held in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo maintained that diabetes was not a killer disease, adding that he went around with his drugs and testing kits to ensure he has the right blood sugar level.
He stressed that he was above 80 years and could engage in every activity despite being diabetic.
He stated, “I have been diagnosed with diabetes for more than 35 years now and here I am; I’m still going about; I’m still jumping up and down; I’m still doing many things that many people of my age cannot do.
“Since I was diagnosed with diabetes, a number of my friends have died and the reason is because they just did not manage their diabetes the way they should manage it.
“It does not matter whether you are type-1 or type-2, so far there is no cure for diabetes, maybe there will be a cure before I die.
“You have to understand the type of food you should eat; you must completely abstain from sugar. The amount of carbohydrates that you take must be watched.
“Don’t miss your drugs; in your own case, your insulin injection. I take my drugs along with me everywhere I go and I always check my blood sugar level regularly.
“Don’t let anybody put fear in your mind; diabetes has no cure for now, but it can be managed.”
In his remarks, the camp coordinator, Dr Olubiyi Adesina, said the programme was organised to give information and encourage young people from age one to 21 living with type-1 diabetes.
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