SVG celebrates World Diabetes Day today

Today, St Vincent and the Grenadines will join in the global celebration of World Diabetes Day, intended to “increase advocacy and awareness” of the chronic, non-communicable disease.{{more}}

This year’s theme is ‘Healthy Living and Diabetes’, which will run until 2019.

The SVG Diabetic and Hypertensive Association is hosting a wellness fair today at the Kingtown Vegetable Market from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., and will be dispensing advice on prevention and management of diabetes, as well as providing free blood sugar and blood pressure testing.

This event has been endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment – with Dr Rosmond Adams, physician within the Department of Wellness and Disease Prevention Management, encouraging the public to attend.

“We are facing a global crisis of non-communicable diseases,” he pointed out. “There needs to be some quick responses to these diseases… Action now, and you get results tomorrow.”

Speaking to SEARCHLIGHT, Dr Adams said that in general, it is a constant challenge to convince people to adopt healthier lifestyles, in the quest to prevent persons from developing diabetes.

He explained that because non-communicable diseases, (NCDs), such as diabetes usually develop over a longer period of time, people tend not to regard them with the same urgency that they do with diseases such as Chikungunya and Ebola, but that NCDs can cause just as much damage.

Worldwide, diabetes is responsible for approximately 1.5 million deaths per year, making it the eighth most common cause of death – almost as many as caused by AIDS.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there are presently 382 million people living with the disease globally; and it is predicted that by 2035, every one in 10 persons could have the disease.

In 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012, diabetes was the third leading cause of death in SVG, with it being the fifth leading cause in 2011.

Dr Adams said that in addition to promoting prevention and management of the disease, it is important to realise that diabetes can affect anyone of any age or gender, and is not just limited to older persons.

He noted that children are often left out of diabetes sensitization and advocacy, and it is essential that we instill the benefits of healthy living from a young age.

“Start instilling in them to change their lifestyles, to adopt healthy habits; and, if they have signs and symptoms of the disease, to start practising proper management of the disease,” insisted Dr Adams.

Managing the disease properly in its early stages can greatly reduce the risk of developing complications later in life. Such complications include blindness, high blood pressure, stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney and nerve damage, diabetic ketoacidosis (which can lead to a coma), stomach problems, and gangrene/amputations.

The diabetes wellness fair will also offer free Body Mass Index (BMI) measuring and advice from professionals who deal with diabetes and other NCDs. Dr Tomo Kanda, a PAHO advisor on chronic diseases, will also be in attendance.

Dr Adams said that beyond marking World Diabetes Day, the Ministry of Health continues to promote prevention and management of the disease, and will be implementing several measures and initiatives to aid in such in the upcoming year, including a chronic care passport that will be used to encourage better self-management of the disease in diabetic patients.

World Diabetes Day is celebrated annually on November 14, which is the birthday of one of the scientists, Sir Frederick Banting, who first used insulin in the treatment of diabetes.(JSV)