Lagos, May 24, 2002 (This Day/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- Evidence
has shown that early feeding of infants with cow milk which contains bovine
serum albumin which reacts with protein P69 of the pancreatic beta cells might
be a cause for high incidence of diabetes in the European countries.
This against African culture of exclusive breast feeding which acts as a
protective factor. Another cause is viral infection.
Type one diabetes reportedly depends on genetic and environmental factors. The
genes, HL ADR3 and HLADR4 that make it prevalent in Europeans are uncommon in
Nigerians. Studies indicate that molecular genetic variation of short arm of
human chromosomes and proper din factor B allotypes differ between Nigerian type
1 and European type 1 diabetes.
Diabetes or high blood sugar is as a result of the body's failure to produce
sufficient and effective insulin. Foods eaten are converted into glucose and
insulin is needed to move the glucose from the blood stream into the body cells
where energy is produced. With an insufficient supply of insulin, the cells
malfunction and the glucose level rises. If uncontrolled it leads to serious
health problems such as heart attacks, strokes, blindness, kidney failure,
impotence and even amputation of limbs. Experts say that high risk is more on
the overweight, people over forty and those with diabetes in the family. "The
risk of diabetes increases three fold after the age of 44 years".
Type two diabetes is usually associated with overweight. Increase in fat tissue
is said to be the result of increased resistance to the action of insulin on the
body cells. As such fat people need more of insulin to process the glucose in
their bodies.
According to Prof. G.C Onyemelukwe of the Depart-ment of Medicine and
Immu-nology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, the deficient
action of insulin is associated with disturbances of carbohydrates, fat and
protein metabolism and premature morbidity and mortality. "It arises when the
pancreas fails to produce enough insulin (type 1) diabetes or when the body
cannot effectively make use of the insulin produced (type 2) diabetes, he said.
Recently, World Health Organisation stated that type 2 diabetes is characterised
by disorders of insulin resistance and insulin secretion. It accounts for 85 per
cent to 95 per cent of all diabetic incidences. It is estimated that 20 per cent
of world population has it and it might double by the year 2015 due to increased
population size, larger number of aged people and risky lifestyles.
The high incidence of the disease will also be more in the developing countries.
In sub-Saharan Africa, demographic change is expected to trigger increase in
change. Also urbanisation in the region has been considered a factor though
diabetes is preventable through early detection and treatment of complications.
The recently discovered human clinical trial of INCAP (Islets Neogenesis,
Protein) which is a growth factor for stem cells of Islets to regenerate might
prove to be the cure.
