Nuffield Clinic launches the ‘Diabetes Can Start in the Kitchen and End in the Kitchen’ project to educate caregivers, parents, chefs, and health-conscious individuals on how the right ingredients and portion control can help prevent and manage diabetes.
Diabetes is no longer a distant health concern, it lives in our homes, our families, and sometimes right on our plates. With rising cases in Ghana, it has become clearer than ever that what we cook, how we cook it, and what we serve our loved ones play a critical role in either preventing diabetes or managing diabetes.
This December 2025, Nuffield Clinic kicks off with a one-of-a-kind initiative that brings the solution right back home, Diabetes Can Start in the Kitchen and End in the Kitchen.
This practical, hands-on experience will show participants that the kitchen is not just a place for meals but also where health begins.
In a recent interview on GhOne TV, Ms. Serwa Esumaba, a registered dietitian from Nuffield Clinic, highlighted diabetes as a critical health issue in Ghana. She revealed that while about 6% of Ghanaian adults are known to be living with type 2 diabetes, the actual figure is likely much higher and rising according to WHO, 2022.
Moving beyond general advice, Ms. Esumaba provided practical, actionable guidance. She detailed specific types of ingredients beneficial for blood sugar control and the optimal times to incorporate them into daily meals. A central pillar of her presentation was the critical importance of portion control. To illustrate this, she used the popular Ghanaian dish, Waakye, demonstrating an ideal plate composition: half filled with vegetables, a quarter with protein sources, and the remaining quarter with carbohydrates.
She also emphasized that portion control is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. “Everybody’s portion control would be different,” she stated, advising viewers to consult a certified dietitian for a personalized plan. A professional, she explained, can determine the right “portion control rate or percentage” tailored to an individual’s unique health status, metabolism, and lifestyle.
The Heart of the Initiative- Diabetes can start in the kitchen or end in the kitchen
This Kitchen Project is designed as a live cooking class and demonstration, led by expert Dietitians, Nutritionists, and Medical Doctors. The goal is very simple but powerful, teach families and cooks how to prepare healthy meals that prevent or properly manage diabetes.
Participants will learn practical techniques such as:
✔ Portion control and accurate measurement: understanding how much is too much, the secret that many home kitchens overlook.
✔ Healthy swaps that make a difference: choosing lower-sugar or lower-fat options, using cooking methods that reduce excess fat (frying replaced by baking) and replacing highly processed ingredients with whole foods (replacing white rice with brown), small changes with big impacts.
✔ Building a balanced, Diabetes-friendly plate: a simple guide to combining carbohydrates, protein and fibre in ways that help maintain steady blood sugar levels.
✔ Practical, realistic strategies: making small, culturally appropriate adjustments in everyday meals that are achievable at home and still satisfying.
Why This Matters Now
Many Ghanaians unknowingly cook their way into high blood sugar levels simply because they do not understand how ingredients, cooking methods, and portion sizes affect their health.
This initiative is designed for diabetic patients and their families, Health-conscious individuals, parents and caregivers, culinary trainees, chefs, and home cooks.
Whether you want to prevent diabetes or manage it better, your journey can start in the same place, your kitchen.
Healthy living goes beyond food, and this program brings all the elements together.
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/DmLN79gaRWqVFGoU7
