Dr. Moyosore Makinde, Consultant and President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg), has urged Nigerians to empower themselves with knowledge and tools to prevent diabetes through evidence-based lifestyle changes. Speaking ahead of World Diabetes Day 2025 under the theme “Diabetes Across Life Stages,” she stressed the importance of conscious health decisions and public awareness for prevention, early diagnosis, and effective management.
Dr. Makinde highlighted that over 24 million African adults live with diabetes—a figure expected to rise to 60 million by 2050. In Nigeria, 4.3% of adults are estimated to have diabetes, driven largely by urban lifestyle changes such as sedentary habits and poor diet. Diabetes increases the risk for other serious health issues like cancer and hypertension.
The Doctor emphasized regular physical activity—at least 150 minutes weekly—healthy eating mindful of portion sizes and timing, avoiding high-calorie diets, and routine medical checkups for early detection and intervention. She also advised reducing smoking and alcohol consumption to reduce diabetes risk.
Beyond individual action, Dr. Makinde called for public health policies like taxing sugary drinks and using social media for awareness campaigns. She advocated for child-friendly school playgrounds and affordable healthcare to support early screening and treatment, aiming to curb the diabetes epidemic.
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