Dr S. A. Adjetey of the 37th Military Hospital on Friday advised Ghanaians to take care of themselves by keeping track of their hypertension and diabetes status regularly.
He urged them to also check their eyes periodically.
Speaking at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Ghana Mines Workers Union (GMWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in Accra, Dr Adjetey said hypertension was a deceitful and silent killer which was often
not accompanied by any symptom.
He said both diabetes and hypertension were not curable but controllable.
He said people with diabetes have high blood sugar levels because their pancreas did not make enough insulin.
Dr Adjetey said when glucose in the blood cannot move into cells, it stays in the blood and causes glucose to accumulate in the blood and this does not only harms the cells that need the glucose for fuel, but also harms certain organs and tissues exposed to the high glucose levels.
Dr Adjetey said symptoms of diabetes included excessive thirst, frequent urination and urination may be profuse even though the person does not consume many fluids throughout the day, hunger, fatigue, weight loss despite good appetite and some times boils.
Other symptoms are frequent or recurrent or prolonged infections, blurry vision, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, poor wound healing
and impotence in men.
Dr Adjetey said contrary to some popular myth that there was 'diabetes diet', having the ailment does not mean "you have to eat only bland and
boring foods".
Instead, he said, "it means you'll eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains foods that are high in nutrition and low in fat and calories
and fewer animal products and sweets".