Diabetes cases to increase by 45% - a pandemic disease
On Tuesday, 14 November, the BVI will celebrate World Diabetes Day. The local celebrations are spearheaded by the BVI Diabetes Association, a non-governmental-organisation that has done so much to assist the local diabetic population and sensitize public opinion about this serious health condition. Quite recently, during a casual conversation with a local medical doctor we were made aware that diabetes is reaching epidemiological levels in the Caribbean and in the BVI. In fact, the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre (CAREC) has announced that in the not too distant future one in every six persons aged 45 years or more will be diabetic.
Official data made available by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) confirms that in the British Virgin Islands, between 1992 and 1995, diabetes mellitus was the number one cause of hospitalisation in the territory, with an average of 62 admissions per year. Although statistics for the past five years are not available we have been told that these patterns continue and tend to get even more serious. Furthermore diabetes and hypertension rank among the top five causes of death and reasons for hospital admission, district clinic attendance, and home visits by nurses.
The Ministry of Health, in conjunction with the BVI Diabetes Association, has undertaken to control these diseases, through public education and improved clinical advice for diabetics and their families. PAHO points out in no uncertain terms that diabetes has emerged as a public health concern of pandemic proportions, and the number of cases is expected to increase in the order of 45 percent over the next 10-15 years, especially in the Caribbean. In view of these forecasts it is extremely important that our health authorities consider the development and introduction of a properly financed diabetes program to tackle what will undoubtedly be a serious emergency. At a community level we need to be more aware that the fight against diabetes requires a collective response to more healthy eating habits. By the same token our health authorities ought to focus on better and more effective care for persons with the disease. But ultimately, patient and public education are the keys to achieving significant results in our fight against diabetes.