Abstract:

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels, either due to insufficient endogenous insulin production by the pancreatic beta cells, known as Type1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) or due to impaired insulin secretion and/or action, known as Type2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). It is a growing public health problem that poses major socio-economic challenges.

Local context: For a long time, there has been marginalization and neglect of our African traditional foods in favor of western diets and lifestyle. This has culminated in an increased prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus among Cameroonians in general and North West populations in particular. As at now no scientific research has been carried out to seek solutions to this imminent Non-communicable Disease epidemic.

Objective: The general objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status, and dietary management of elderly diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinic in the Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH).

Purpose: The purpose was to provide crucial baseline information that could be used in the planning and implementation of the prevention, control and treatment strategies for T2DM in the Bamenda health district Mezam Division.

Methodology: The study design was a cross sectional explorative and analytic design and the sample size consisted of all one hundred and forty (140) elderly diabetic patients receiving treatment at Bamenda Regional Hospital (BRH).

Results: The results showed that 71% of the participants had no family history of diabetes. Meanwhile anthropometric assessment showed that there was no significant difference (P<0.05) in the mean weight of the patients, even though 86% of the females were obese compared to their male counterparts (14%). The Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) for all the participants was above the normal range of 126mg/dl.

Keywords: Diabetes, Nutrition, Food, Blood Glucose, and Anthropometry.

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