Tackling diabetes, hypertension, other NCDs: Cameroonian scientist calls for “food as medicine” strategy.

Dr. Therese Martin Cheteu Wabo, a nutrition epidemiologist from Baham, argues that the scientific evidence linking diet quality to hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease is now “too robust for Cameroon to ignore.”

She is part of a growing international movement testing “produce prescription” programs—interventions where doctors provide fruit-and-vegetable vouchers to patients at high risk of chronic disease.

Why this matters for Cameroon’s health landscape

The latest WHO country data show adult hypertension at 36.8% in Cameroon, with stroke and ischemic heart disease among the leading causes of death. These outcomes trace back to daily diets that are too salty and too refined, low in potassium- and magnesium-rich greens and legumes, and heavy in cheap oils and sugary drinks. 

Eat more leafy greens, beans, and small fish; keep protein and vegetables bigger than refined starch on your plate; use less oil and fry less—boil, steam, or grill more; and eat vegetables every day with at least one fruit. Over time, these simple, food-first steps lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and reduce the very risks that fill our stroke and heart-disease wards. In short, Cameroon’s cardiovascular crisis is inseparable from its food environment—and must be treated as such.

The science behind her recommendations

Dr. Cheteu Wabo’s peer‑reviewed studies use large datasets—including the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey—to explore how diet shapes health outcomes.

Her findings show:

Mineral balance matters for blood pressure regulation

Calcium, magnesium, and potassium help regulate vascular tone. Their insufficiency—combined with high sodium intake—creates the metabolic conditions that lead to hypertension.
Cameroonian diets, especially in urban areas, increasingly rely on refined foods low in these minerals.

The protein‑to‑carbohydrate ratio predicts long‑term health

An imbalanced ratio is associated with poor metabolic outcomes. In Cameroon, high‑carbohydrate dietary patterns (fufu, gari, rice, sweetened beverages) paired with low-quality protein sources increase the risk.

3. From Plate to Prognosis: Long-Term Diet Predicts Diabetes Risk

Her 14-year longitudinal study showed that worsening diet-quality trajectories were independently associated with a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes, whereas improvements in diet quality reduced risk. Because diet shapes cardiometabolic physiology cumulatively—through sustained effects on insulin sensitivity, blood pressure regulation, lipid profiles, and low-grade inflammation—its health impact is greatest over years, not weeks. Accordingly, prevention must be designed as a long-term strategy that supports and maintains higher diet quality across the life course.

Evidence from the United States that could be adapted here

Dr. Cheteu Wabo is currently evaluating a three‑year produce‑prescription program operating across rural New York State. Early results show that patients receiving fruit‑and‑vegetable vouchers report better food security, healthier eating patterns, and improved overall health.

Her findings were presented at the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting in Washington in November 2025. She believes Cameroon can pilot similar schemes—starting with district hospitals, urban clinics, and NGOs already working in nutrition and chronic disease prevention.

“Our markets are filled with what richer countries now classify as ‘superfoods,’” she said. “A plate of 'sans sel' and properly cooked ndolé—these are not just meals. They are interventions. They should be part of the prescription pad.”

A warning shaped by evidence

Dr. Cheteu Wabo cautions that the next decade could see Cameroon’s cardiology and nephrology units overwhelmed if policy does not shift.

“Preventing hypertension and diabetes before they develop is far cheaper than treating kidney failure or heart disease,” she notes. “If we continue focusing only on medication, we will lose the battle.”

Her call is straightforward: “Prescribe food. Prescribe vegetables. Prescribe fruits. They are part of the treatment.”

Dr Cheteu Wabo Therese Martin.  

She is Nutrition epidemiologist | Chronic Disease Prevention at the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, Cornell University

wabomartin@yahoo.fr