From Learning to Action: Olakunle Babalola on World Diabetes Day

The theme for this year’s World Diabetes Day is “Diabetes Across Life Stages.” The World Health Organization(2025) highlights that effective prevention and management require coordinated efforts from childhood to older adulthood. Globally, the number of people living with diabetes has surged from 200 million in 1990 to 830 million in 2022, with the fastest rise in low- and middle-income countries. Alarmingly, over half of those affected in 2022 were not on treatment. At Public Health U (PHU), we are committed to equipping health professionals with the knowledge and skills to tackle diabetes and other chronic diseases worldwide.

 

Our Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) course, part of the Master’s in Public Health Program, equips learners to understand the global burden of NCDs and apply strategies for prevention, control, and health promotion in real-world settings. One of our learners, Olakunle Babalola, is a seasoned Health Promotion Strategist with over 20 years of experience in public health. He currently serves as Executive Director of 360 Mind-Matters International, a nonprofit focused on evidence-based prevention, mental wellness, and community health. He also volunteers with the Lagos State Government to strengthen health systems and support vulnerable populations. Olakunle shares his professional perspective on diabetes as a learner in the NCDs course. Here is what he had to say:

Question: Can you share your overall experience in the Non-Communicable Diseases 1: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases course so far?

“This course gave me a clear, step-by-step roadmap, from understanding the social drivers of NCDs to identifying interventions that actually change outcomes like salt reformulation, tobacco taxation and the HEARTS model in primary care. Revisiting the North Karelia project I worked on showed how comprehensive public health action can drastically reduce heart disease deaths within a generation. The moment I saw those mortality lines plunge on the graph, I actually whispered, “Wow.” I now design programmes that pair smart policy with simple clinic tools, so change sticks.”
Olakunle Babalola

Question: How has this course influenced your perception of lifestyle factors and prevention strategies for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases?

“I don’t see ‘lifestyle’ as willpower anymore. Risk is shaped by food pricing, marketing, and our built environment. Now, I focus on policy action, like setting salt targets or eliminating trans-fat, and pair that with counseling and follow-up in clinical settings.”
Olakunle Babalola

Question: What key message or lesson from this course would you share with others about managing or preventing these conditions?

“Cut salt, eliminate industrial trans-fat, reduce sugary drinks, and standardise blood pressure/diabetes care at every primary-care visit. Do all four together, and the curve bends.”
Olakunle Babalola

Question: World Diabetes Day is observed to raise awareness about diabetes. How has your learning in this course influenced how you would approach diabetes awareness in your community?

“I would host a ‘Know Your Numbers’ pop-up at the local market, offer free glucose checks, and share simple recipe cards for lower-salt, lower-sugar meals. Anyone at risk would be connected to the HEARTS desk at the nearby health centre.”
Olakunle Babalola

Question: If you were to create a short message for World Diabetes Day, based on what you’ve learned in this course, what would it be?

“Move more. Salt less. Sip smarter. Get screened. Stay in control.”
Olakunle Babalola

Question: How do you think public health education can contribute to reducing the global burden of diabetes?

“It turns practitioners into doers, able to pick proven interventions, adapt them to local realities, and track results. That’s how we close the gap between what works on paper and what helps people in clinics and communities.”
Olakunle Babalola

Stories like Olakunle’s reflect the core mission of PHU, to equip health professionals with knowledge to transform their communities, improve lives and contribute to a more just and equitable world. As we observe World Diabetes Day, we are reminded that knowledge is a powerful tool for change and that every learner has the potential to drive meaningful change within their community.  At PHU, we are proud to support learners like Olakunle who are turning evidence-based learning into real-world impact, advancing a future where fewer lives are lost to preventable diseases. We invite you to be part of a growing network of professionals driving better health outcomes through education. Enroll in PHU’s Non-Communicable Diseases course today and join the movement to reduce the burden of diabetes and other NCDs worldwide.

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