By Devon Evans, Freelance WriterFORMER UNITED States Surgeon General, Dr. David Satcher, says one of the major challenges now facing people throughout the world is how to deal with the growth of diabetes and illnesses associated with the disease.
Noting that "diabetes mellitus" has now become a significant global health problem, he said the lives of millions of people throughout the world are now seriously threatened.
Dr. Satcher said the last ten years have seen a significant increase in the number of people living with diabetes, compared to other diseases, with the numbers continuing to grow.
He said this means more people will be dying from diabetes and that health budgets of the various countries will be further constrained in order to meet the increasing demand. He said, at present, approximately 10 per cent of the US health demand budget is spent on treating diabetes illnesses.
Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner, Dr. Satcher said the major task now confronting the various nations is how to deal with those living with diabetes and how to prevent others from becoming victims of the disease.
The former US Surgeon- General was a special guest speaker at the 9th annual International Conference on Diabetes, which was held at the Renaissance Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios this weekend.
In his address to the participants, he emphasised the importance of mental health in treating chronic diseases such as diabetes. Dr. Satcher said it is important that people be motivated when being treated for diabetes because this will ensure better co-operation on critical matters such as physical activity, nutrition and monitoring the level of blood sugar.
He pointed out that obesity and ageing were two critical factors contributing to diabetes and said that, while it has been difficult to get people to begin taking their health seriously, the effects of diabetes, including death, blindness and amputation speak clearly to the need for persons to become more healthy.
Explaining the importance of healthy lifestyles or physical activity, for example, could reduce the risk of death by more than 50 per cent in disease such as colon, breast and prostrate cancers. "It can reduce deaths in cardiovascular disease by 50 per cent and the onset of type 2 diabetes by almost 60 per cent."
Dr. Satcher who was U.S. Surgeon General from 1998 - 2002 said countries throughout the world will never be able to treat all the people with diabetes, so what needed to be done was to find a way to reduce the number of people at risk of having diabetes. "And one way to do this is to focus on physical activity and this will prevent low blood pressure, increase muscle tone, bone strength and even enhance sexual potency and enjoyment," he explained.
He said physical activity, along with proper nutrition and a desire not to smoke, can effectively reduce the risk of persons having diabetes.
