Veteran actor Jide Kosoko has disclosed that he has lived with diabetes for 30 years, sharing how he has managed the condition over the years. In an excerpt from his interview on actress Biola Adebayo’s “Talk To B” podcast, which went viral on Sunday, the 72-year-old said his long experience with the condition had taught him to pay closer attention to his health.
He added that living with diabetes had made him take regular medical tests seriously to ensure that his health remained stable. He said: “My daily activities help my health so much. I became diabetic in 1996. So, I’ve been managing it. So, you can easily understand that I understand it. In fact, I understand my health more than some doctors. And I know when to take sugar and not to.
Take this or take that—my medication. “I refuse to allow anybody to deceive me into thinking that any herb can solve it. We know the causes of high blood sugar. And as such, you need to understand your ailments. Get to understand your body. I have several signs to determine. It’s like I need sugar. I need to rest.
So, with that, you are good to go.” Kosoko said his experience of living with diabetes and undergoing a colonoscopy inspired him to consider establishing a foundation to help less privileged colleagues access medical tests. He encouraged fellow actors and Nigerians to prioritise their health and take necessary steps to prevent avoidable medical complications.
The actor pledged to cover the medical testing costs of colleagues who could not afford them, urging them to take their health seriously. “They check everything. To detect if there are any ailments. Or maybe cancer or something is growing anywhere within. And yeah, it wasn’t difficult. In fact, it wasn’t just a colonoscopy;