Healthy Dieting

CFHI and Imo State Ministry of Health Unite for World Diabetes Day 2025!

Community Development, Diabetes, Diabetes Awareness and Care, Gender Equality, Health, Health Communication, Healthy Dieting, Hygiene / cfhinitiative

The Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) partnered with the Imo State Ministry of Health to mark World Diabetes Day 2025, at the Ministry of Health Block, Imo State Secretariat, Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, reaching 50 individuals with vital diabetes awareness and screening services.
focusing on the theme “Diabetes and Well-being: Creating Supportive Environments in the Workplace”.

Key Highlights:
Free BP and Blood Sugar Testing
Expert Dietitians on ground for personalized meal planning
Empowering individuals with diabetes to thrive at all life stages.
Integrated care and support for physical and mental well-being.

Our mission was to spark a movement! We aimed to educate, empower, and encourage employers, employees, and the global community to act towards healthier workplaces.

CFHI and Imo State Ministry of Health Unite for World Diabetes Day 2025! Read More »

MONDAY HEALTH BURST

16DaysOfActivism, Anxiety Disorder, Attention Deficit, Community Development, Diabetes, Diabetes Awareness and Care, Global warming, Health, Health Communication, Healthy Dieting, Men's Health, Monday Health Burst / cfhinitiative

Early Detection and Lifestyle Choices Against Diabetes

Diabetes has become one of the fastest-growing health challenges globally, claiming millions of lives and affecting countless families. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 537 million adults are living with diabetes, and that number is projected to rise to 643 million by 2030. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) also notes that one in ten adults currently lives with diabetes, and nearly half are undiagnosed meaning millions are silently living with the condition without receiving the care they need ^[1,2].

Early detection is a vital weapon in the fight against diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for around 90% of all cases, often develops gradually, showing little or no symptoms until complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, or vision loss have already set in. Detecting the disease early allows for timely medical intervention, lifestyle modification, and proper management, which significantly reduces the risk of complications and improves long-term outcomes. Studies have shown that early diagnosis and treatment of diabetes reduce cardiovascular and renal complications and lower overall mortality rates ^[3].

One of the most remarkable pieces of evidence for prevention comes from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a landmark study in the United States. The research found that participants who adopted healthier diets, engaged in moderate physical activity for about 150 minutes per week, and achieved modest weight loss reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 58% compared to those who did not make lifestyle changes ^[4]. This clearly shows that lifestyle choices particularly nutrition, exercise, and maintaining a healthy body weight play a powerful role in preventing or delaying diabetes.

Healthy living begins with awareness. Regular screening for blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and weight helps individuals know their risk status early. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults aged 35 and above, or younger people with risk factors such as obesity, family history of diabetes, or sedentary lifestyle, undergo regular diabetes screening ^[5]. Screenings should not stop at diagnosis; they should be paired with counseling, education, and access to proper care for effective management. The World Health Organization stresses that integrated care, including screening and education, remains essential for effective diabetes control ^[6].

In Nigeria, diabetes continues to pose significant public health challenges, driven by persistent rise in medication costs⁷, limited awareness, unhealthy diets, and rapid urban lifestyle changes. Recognizing this, the Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) has consistently raised awareness about diabetes prevention and care. Through its Diabetes Awareness and Care (DAC) project in Imo state, CFHI has conducted free diabetes screening for over 36,000 persons, alongside health education sessions and outreach campaigns reaching about half a million individuals to encourage early testing and lifestyle change. These community-based interventions mirror global best practices, showing that education and early detection can help prevent diabetes and its complications before they start.

Ultimately, combating diabetes requires a joint effort from individuals, communities, health systems, and the government. While early detection helps identify risks, lifestyle choices, healthy eating, regular exercise, and avoiding harmful habits remain the cornerstone of prevention. As CFHI continues to promote healthier communities through advocacy, education, and screening programs, the message remains clear: diabetes can be managed and even prevented when detected early and addressed with healthy lifestyle choices.

As the world marks World Diabetes Day 2025 under the theme “Empowering Lives Through Early Detection and Access to Care”, it is a timely reminder that diabetes prevention starts with awareness and action. CFHI joins the global community in calling for affordable access to care, increased access to screening opportunities, education, and quality healthcare services for all. Together, we can build a future where early detection saves lives, and healthy lifestyle choices protect generations from the silent burden of diabetes.

References

World Health Organization. Diabetes. Geneva: WHO; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/diabetes
International Diabetes Federation. IDF Diabetes Atlas. Brussels: IDF; 2024. Available from: https://diabetesatlas.org
Herman WH, Ye W, Griffin SJ, et al. Early detection and treatment of type 2 diabetes reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality: simulation and trial evidence. Diabetes Care. 2015;38(8):1449–1455. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4512138/
Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE, et al. Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:393–403. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa012512
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes Screening: Who Should Get Tested and When. CDC; 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data-research/research/diabetes-screening-eligible.html
World Health Organization. World Diabetes Day: Prevention and Early Detection of Diabetes. WHO; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2024/11/14/default-calendar/world-diabetes-day-2024
Punch Health Wise. Diabetes patients lament as cost of medications rises from N70,000 to N180,000. Available from: (NAN, 2024)

MONDAY HEALTH BURST Read More »

SPEAK WEDNESDAY – PREDIABETES

Diabetes, Health, Healthy Dieting, Monday Health Burst, Prediabetes / cfhinitiative

PREDIABETES – YOUR CHANCE TO PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES

According to Centre for Disease Control (CDC), prediabetes is a serious health condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal, yet not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. If one has prediabetes, it shows that the cells in the body do not respond normally to insulin. Hence, the pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond and eventually will not be able to keep up. The blood sugar then rises, setting the stage for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Studies have shown that 1 in 3 American adults have prediabetes. In Nigeria, the prevalence of prediabetes is also high with hypertension emerging as the possible driving force. Though the exact cause of prediabetes is unknown, family history, genetics, lack of regular physical activity and being overweight with excess fat around the abdomen appear to be important factors. Other factors include ever having gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or giving birth to a baby who weighed more than 9 pounds and having polycystic ovary syndrome.

Often times, one could be with prediabetes for years with no clear symptoms, so it often goes undetected until serious health problems such as type 2 diabetes show up. However, some people experience increased thirst, frequent urination, excess hunger, fatigue, blurred vision, and darkened skin on certain parts of the body (neck, armpits, elbows, knees and knuckles).

To reverse prediabetes, keep an active lifestyle by getting at least 150 minutes a week of brisk walking or a similar activity, avoid refined carbohydrates, cut back on sugar, eat healthy foods, drink less alcohol, get sufficient sleep, reduce food portion size. More so, periodic screening is key to detecting and reversing prediabetes. Simple Blood Sugar Test done in time could stop prediabetes from developing into type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

SPEAK WEDNESDAY – PREDIABETES Read More »

MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Health, Health Communication, Healthy Dieting, Hygiene, Monday Health Burst, WHO, World Food Day / cfhinitiative

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020, a healthy eating plan includes eating of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat free or low-fat milk and milk products. They are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars. While unhealthy diet includes overeating of fatty and greasy food, and of milky products, sweet foods, highly flavoured food, too pungent food, as well as drinking too much alcohol, leading to the formation of Damp-Heat.

Increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. People are now consuming more foods high in energy, fats, free sugars and salt/sodium, and many people do not eat enough fruits, vegetables and other dietary fibre such as whole grains. Healthy eating is all about balance. Hence, it is possible to enjoy ones favorite meals, but the key point is eating them less often and balancing them with healthier foods with more physical activities.

Some general tips for healthy dieting include less intake of high-calorie foods and intentionally replace them with lower-calorie versions. Consuming a healthy diet throughout the life-course helps to prevent malnutrition in all its forms as well as a range of non-communicable diseases and conditions.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to tackle issues of basic health concerns. Join us every Monday for more health-related articles on all our social media platforms.

MONDAY HEALTH BURST Read More »