The Sugar Disease Narrative: Local Explanations of Diabetes Aetiology and Their Influence on Diet Compliance in Bayelsa State

Diabetes mellitus, sometimes called “sugar disease”, has grown into a major public health problem in Nigeria, especially in places where people’s cultural ideas about illness shape how they think about disease and what they do for treatment. This study basically described how diabetes is explained and how these explanations relate to diet compliance among residents of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. In particular, the study focused on local understandings of the aetiology and nature of diabetes, and explored the ways in which local understandings of diabetes impact upon the perception of medical advice and diet adherence, as well as the difficulties encountered by diabetes patients as they juggle local dietary practices and medical advice. The Health Belief Model (HBM) was used as the guiding theoretical framework. In terms of design, the study used a descriptive survey approach. The study population involved diabetes patients, diabetes care takers, healthcare workers, nutritionists, traditional healers, and community elders in the area. A total sample size of 400 respondents was arrived at using Taro Yamane’s formula. A multi-stage sampling process that basically used random, cluster, systematic and purposive sampling was also taken to select Oporoma, Peremabiri, Aleibiri, Eniwari, Kaiama and Okoloba communities. Structured questionnaires were employed to collect primary data, while descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean scores, as well as tables and charts were used to analysed the data. The findings suggested that diabetes is strongly influenced by cultural beliefs. This is because many respondents linked diabetes to too much sugar intake, spiritual attacks, and hereditary causes. The study further showed that the traditional explanation of diabetes has a meaningful effect on how patients view medical guidance and whether they stick with dietetic practices. In fact, some patients chose herbal, spiritual remedies over hospital-based care. The study highlighted the need for increased public health education, culturally appropriate health interventions, and cost-effective dietary support programs to help patients manage their diabetes and adhere to dietary guidelines.