Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday lamented diabetes had claimed many of his friends but explained how he had managed the condition for 35 years.
Obasanjo, who disclosed he was diagnosed with diabetes at 50, advised those with the condition, particularly children to manage the ailment well by maintaining healthy lifestyle.
He declared that diabetes is not a killer disease, if well managed.
The elder statesman spoke at the closing ceremony of the Ogun State Diabetes Youth Development Camp in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
The camp, which was organised by Talabi Diabetes Centre trained 21 children living with type-1 diabetes in the State on how to manage the condition.
He advised the children to abstain from consuming sugar, foods with carbohydrates and always take their insulin injection to manage the disease well.
He said: “I have been diagnosed of 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 many people of my age cannot do.
“Since I was diagnosed of 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 one or type two, so far there is no cure for diabetes, maybe there will be cure before I die but I pray that there will be cure before you 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 minds. Diabetes has no cure for now but it can be managed.”
