One in four J'cans may have diabetes by 2020
published: Friday | March 11, 2005

Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

ONE IN four adult Jamaicans could be living with diabetes from as early as 2020, five years ahead of World Health Organisation (WHO) projections, says Professor Errol Morrison.

This represents an increase to 500,000 from the 300,000 persons now affected by the disease. Head of the Jamaica Diabetes Association, Professor Morrison, told The Gleaner in an interview that this was due to increasing obesity which currently affects 36 per cent of those over the age of 15.

"Diabetes is the second leading cause of death in Jamaica and a precursor for heart disease," he said. "We need to educate people to eat less fast food, to eat more healthily so that they are less vulnerable to the disease."

'WHAT WE EAT ...'

Responsibility for diabetes rests with "what we eat, when we eat and how we eat," added Dr. Winston Davidson, chairman of the Medical Committee of the National Health Fund.

"Obesity is one of the managing factors of diabetes and more needs to be done so people understand the damage fast food and refined sugars cause," Dr. Davidson said. "Obesity makes the diabetes worse, it increases blood pressure and the risk of heart-related events. People need to be reminded of the health benefits of 'complex carbohydrates', by which I mean yams, bananas, potatoes and grain."

Professor Morrison said the provision of subsidised insulin through the National Health Fund (NHF) and Jamaica Drugs for the Elderly (JADET) had helped fight diabetes, reducing the cost for a month's supply (one bottle on average). Under JADET, the price is as low as $25 compared to the pharmacy price of US$20.

TREATMENT

Of the 300,000 persons currently living with diabetes, only 150,000 are receiving treatment. Professor Morrison said the estimated 150,000 remaining were undiagnosed and unaware of their condition.

"Apart from the health benefits in fighting diabetes it can help ease the burden it places on health services," he said, referring to the provision of subsidised insulin. Figures from 2002 showed that the disease costs Jamaica US$146 per head of population in annual health expenditure.

The Diabetes Association's Lay Facilitators Education Programme, which trains community leaders nationwide can help stem the increase and reveal undiagnosed patients, Professor Morrison said. He added, "It is essential to reach the young, the under-15s as they have the most potential to change their lifestyle and eating habits."