By Merrick Andrews, Staff Reporter"ONE IN every five people in the Jamaican adult population has diabetes and half of them don't know until problems arise," says Professor Errol Morrison, Chairman of the Diabetes Association of Jamaica.
Diabetes is prevalent here because of our underlying predisposition, "plus we don't exercise as we should and with our high fat, fast food diet, obesity is overtaking the population," says Professor Morrison.
The US which has 16 million diabetics spends $100 billion a year on the disease, he notes. The problem is so huge and medical treatment so costly, it can only be addressed by public education, he adds.
Luther Vandross going public about his diabetic condition could help to mobilise the nation to be more conscious of the disease, says Professor Morrison.
There are no real tell-tale signs of the disease. "Most times people just don't feel well. But it can be the underlying cause of malaise, also weight loss though the person may be eating more. They may also be drinking while still complaining of thirst."
Diabetes is sometimes not recognised until about seven to 12 years when it's already in the latent stage and problems start to occur more. Common to diabetes is a strong family tendency. "Sometimes it skips a generation and if the parents are diabetic, then the chances of getting the disease are stronger," says Professor Morrison.
DIABETIC DIET
Dr. Joy Callender of the Downer Medical Group says there is no special diabetic diet, as a diabetic nutritional programme is tailored to an individual depending on personal factors like age, gender, activity, and pattern of eating.
Obesity is the single biggest contributing factor to diabetes. Eighty per cent of Type 2 diabetics are obese, she says. Type 2 diabetes tends to occur in older, overweight adults when the body doesn't produce enough insulin or when it doesn't respond to the insulin.
TIMELY MEALS ARE CRITICAL
Eating on time is of special importance to Type 2 diabetics, says Dr. Callender, to keep their blood sugar level stable. Not eating on time means the blood sugar will be low while on the other hand eating too much will mean the blood sugar level will be high. "The goal is to have small, frequent mini meals," she says.
The actual eating is not important, it's the interval between meals.
Meanwhile Professor Morrison's recipe for lessening the chances of getting diabetes is to keep your weight right, eat less, walk more and cut down on fast foods.
TIPS FOR DIABETICS
Have a nutritionist work out a diet plan that is right for you -- one that is based on your age, gender, and level of activity.
Limit foods that are high in fats or that have refined sugar and carbohydrates -- white flour, ice cream, pastries, fast foods, for example. They dump a heavy dose of sugar into the bloodstream, putting a strain on the pancreas.
Emphasise vegetables, beans, foods such as oats and others made from whole grain products.
Be wary of some fruits like paw paw, ripe banana and melon. They have a high glycaemic level (the elevation of blood sugar).
Dr. Joy Callender of the Downer Medical Group
