Further strengthening the fight against diabetes in Togo

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Extract from the article: Togo celebrated World Diabetes Day on November 14. To mark the occasion, the Jeune Intellect pour la Sécurité Alimentaire au Togo (JISA-Togo) association, in collaboration with the FAO, organized an exceptional conference on December 18 on the theme

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Togo celebrated World Diabetes Day on November 14. To mark the occasion, the Jeune Intellect pour la Sécurité Alimentaire au Togo (JISA-Togo) association, in collaboration with the FAO/Togo, organized an exceptional conference on December 18 on the theme of «  and Well-Being ». The aim was to highlight the impact of diabetes on the physical and mental well-being of patients, and the therapeutic education of diabetic patients, an essential lever for diabetes management. One of the day's key contributions was the presentation of the results of an innovative study of 50 traditional Togolese dishes. The study identified the dishes that are richest in carbohydrates, thus offering guidelines for a diet better adapted to the needs of diabetics.

In Togo, the prevalence of diabetes is 5%, i.e. over 400,000 people. What's even more alarming is that around 70% of diabetics are unaware of their status, which encourages the development of serious complications. In the absence of early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, diabetic comas are common and account for almost half of all diabetes-related deaths in the country. Diabetes is also the cause of many cases of limb amputation, and is the second leading cause of dialysis for kidney failure.  « We need to raise awareness of diabetes and the means of prevention. Early detection of diabetes today enables us to take early, intensive, optimized and aggressive action. Intensive, optimized management is a real investment in preserving patients' health. It enables us to acquire a metabolic heritage likely to reduce the risk of complications from diabetes », declared Dr Serge Kodjo, Diabetologist and President of JISA.

Promoting Therapeutic Patient Education for diabetics

Therapeutic patient education (TPE) is a fundamental component of diabetes management. This approach aims to help patients acquire the skills they need to understand their disease, improve their quality of life and, above all, take charge of their own health. Indeed, in the face of diabetes, education plays a key role in preventing complications and ensuring optimal disease control. Therapeutic patient education refers to a set of activities designed to provide patients with the knowledge and tools they need to live better with their condition.

In the case of diabetes, TPE enables patients to understand the mechanisms of the disease, learn how to monitor their blood sugar levels, follow treatment and adopt behaviours that promote a good balance between diet, physical activity and appropriate medical management. Living with diabetes requires extraordinary resilience. In Africa, an estimated 24 million people live with diabetes.

« The figures for diabetes should give us cause for alarm and spur us on to take determined action. We urgently need to step up our efforts in terms of awareness, screening and access to care. With a view to offering a healthy, balanced diet to diabetics in Togo, the FAO has provided support to JISA Togo, through a memorandum of understanding aimed at carrying out an experimental study. The study will determine the glycemic index and glycemic load of 155 starch-based dishes frequently consumed in Togo. The aim of this initiative is to improve dietary habits by establishing clear reference values, enabling dietary and nutritional recommendations to be adapted for better management of diabetics in Togo. Food must be our first medicine in the face of diabetes », explained Dr. Oyetunde Djiwa, FAO Program Manager.

This celebration is not just a reminder of the challenges associated with diabetes, it's also a call to action. In Togo, the fight against this silent pandemic requires collective awareness, appropriate policies and unfailing mobilization.

Elom AKAKPO