Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that he hopes that there will be a cure for diabetes before he dies this acme as he said that he has been battling diabetes for the past 35 years.

Obasanjo, Wednesday, in Abeokuta speaking at the closing ceremony of the Ogun State Diabetes Youth Development Camp lamented that many of his friends have died of diabetes because they were unable to manage the disease.

“I have been diagnosed with 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 with diabetes, a number of my friends have died and the reason is that 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 a cure before I die, but I pray that there will be a cure before you die.

The former head of state advised the youths miss thier drugs, and insulin injection, saying that he takes his drugs along with him everywhere he go and I always check his blood sugar level regularly.

He said: “You have to understand the type of food you should eat, you must completely abstain from sugar. The number of carbohydrates that you take must be watched.

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“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.”

In his remarks, the camp coordinator, Dr Olubiyi Adesina, said the camp was organised to give information and encourage young people living with type-1 diabetes.