Diabetes mellitus is a medical condition that is characterised by obviously high blood sugar level. It occurs when insulin production is inadequate and/or the body cells do not respond properly to insulin. The most common clinical manifestations (symptoms) of Diabetes mellitus include frequent urination, intense thirst, unusual weight gain or weight loss, fatigue, and numbness in hands and feet.

There are majorly 3 types of Diabetes mellitus, let's take a look at them.

TYPES OF DIABETES MELLITUS

Type 1 Diabetes: This occurs due to impairment in the production of insulin as the body does not produce insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes: Here, the body does not produce sufficient amount of insulin for proper functioning or utilization by the body cells.

Gestational Diabetes: Just as the name implies, it occurs during pregnancy. In this case, the blood sugar level in high in a pregnant woman. This usually call for urgent medical attention to avoid complications.

WHAT SHOULD A DIABETIC PATIENT EAT?

The appropriate diet for diabetic patients has been controversial issue for a while. Many bring up different food combo and ideas to suit up. But it boils down to low carb consumption due to the high glucose content in carbohydrates.

Being diabetic doesn’t restrict you from eating exciting meals that are readily available around you.

So today, we want to focus on the Nigerian local foods that suit the diet plan of diabetic patients.

NIGERIAN FOODS GOOD FOR DIABETIC PATIENTS.

As earlier said, not all food should be consumed by DM patients. However, they are not restricted to boring or tasteless meals only.

Below is a list of Nigerian foods that are most suitable for consumption by diabetic patients.


Nigerian soups

• Vegetable soup
• Okra soup
• Edikan Ikong
• Waterleaf soup
• Ogbono soup
• Egusi soup
• Afang soup
• Gberi Soup
• Ewedu

Staple foods (swallow)

• Wheatmeal
• fufu
• Guinea corn meal
• Pounded Unripe plantain 
• Amala

Stews and sauces

• Tomato stew
• Garden egg stew
• Shredded chicken sauce
• Shrimp sauce
• Fresh Fish sauce or stew
• Smoked fish sauce

Low carb meals

• Brown basmati rice and stew
• Unripe plantain porridge
• Moi Moi
• Boiled plantain with stew
• Roasted plantain with fish sauce
• Plantain with beans porridge
• Beans and whole wheat bread

Healthy snacks

• Garden eggs with peanut butter
• Coconuts
• Boiled groundnuts
• Akara balls
• Tiger nuts
• Nigerian pear

Comfort foods

• Isi ewu
• Nkwobi
• Cow leg
• Cow tongue
• Fish pepper soup
• Chicken pepper soup
• Snail pepper soup
• Peppered snail
• Liver sauce
• Gizzard pepper soup

Healthy drinks

• Zobo without sweeteners
• Guinea corn (Dawa)
• kunu
• Millet (joro)
• Unsweetened yoghurt

NOTE

A high-protein, low-carb breakfast is the best option for diabetic patients. 

WHAT YOU SHOULD AVOID

•  Fried foods
• Sugar sweetened beverages
• Canned foods
• White bread
• Pasta
• White rice
• Fruit flavoured yogurt
• Flavoured coffee drinks
• Honey
• Fruit juice

Take Home

Diabetes mellitus is a long term condition that needs proper management and one of its core managements is diet modification. Eating the appropriate foods, alongside the prescribed medications such as mertformin, crisis or complications can be avoided.