EFFECT OF PROCESSING ON FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES, NUTRIENTS COMPOSITION, GLYCEMIC INDEX AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF FINGER MILLET (ELEUSINE CORACANA) FOOD PRODUCTS

EFFECT OF PROCESSING ON FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES, NUTRIENTS COMPOSITION, GLYCEMIC INDEX AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF FINGER MILLET (ELEUSINE CORACANA) FOOD PRODUCTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0         Introduction

Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder and has been defined as a condition in which the pancreas no longer produces sufficient insulin or cells stop responding to the insulin produced, therefore, the glucose in the blood cannot be taken up by the cells of the body (Goldhaber et al., 2011). Diabetes mellitus is the most common endocrine disorder that presently affects 415 million people of the world population and the majority are aged between 40 and 59 and 80% live in low and middle income countries (IDF,2015). Current figures indicate that people living with diabetes is expected to rise from 382 million in 2013 to 642 million by 2040, if no urgent action is taken (IDF, 2015).

The World Health Organization described diabetes as a chronic disease that causes serious complications such as; cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, retinal damage (which can lead to blindness), nerve damage (of several kind) and micro vascular damage, which may cause impotence and poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, which can lead to gangrene and may require amputation (WHO, 2015).

Diabetes is a global problem with devastating human, social and economic impact leading to disabilities such as; reduction in quality of life and massive rise in direct and indirect medical cost. International Diabetes Federation (IDF,2015) recommended adequate treatment of diabetes with increased emphasis on blood glucose control, lifestyle factors such as smoking, consumption of alcohol, keeping a healthy body weight by increasing physical activity and a healthy eating habit which include the consumption of whole grains.

According to Global Report on Diabetes (WHO, 2016), 499 billion US dollars were spent on health care for diabetes in 2011, 548 billion in 2013 and 673 billion in 2016, but the disease is still ravaging many parts of the world especially Africa where more than three quarters of deaths from diabetes in 2013 occurred in people under 60 years which is a prime productive years(WHO,2016).

EFFECT OF PROCESSING ON FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES, NUTRIENTS COMPOSITION, GLYCEMIC INDEX AND SENSORY ATTRIBUTES OF FINGER MILLET (ELEUSINE CORACANA) FOOD PRODUCTS