Diabetes still a major cause of death, disability

It may not be a new story but it sure is an important one. Diabetes continues to kill and restrict the lifestyles of thousands of Belizeans. Today was set aside to learn more and hopefully bring down the numbers.

Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
In a recent survey by the Pan American Health Organization, seventeen percent of the two thousand four hundred Belizeans interviewed has Diabetes. Risk factors such as unhealthy diet, obesity and the lack of physical activity are contributing to the increase in cases.

Anthony Castillo, President, B.D.A.
?We do not think that enough education is being offered at this time. The number of people living with this condition is not aware, one, and even if they are aware they don?t know what to do. They don?t know what shoe to wear, how to prepare their meals and general education is needed.?

Today the Belize Diabetes raised that awareness of this silent killer and dispelled the myths associated with the disease.

Anthony Castillo
?Initially persons felt that the chronic illness diabetes is an illness for the older person, that only older persons can catch the disease and that is a myth, because we also have type one diabetes which is a juvenile diabetes. And quite a number of young people recently have been coming down with this condition.?

The educational fair which was held to observe World Diabetes Day had several displays that provided information on the disease and the treatments available in the country. Some people took advantage of the occasion to receive free blood and pressure checks. But as the public is being encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle B.D.A.?s president Anthony Castillo is appealing to those in authority to do what they can to assist those persons who cannot afford the treatments.

Anthony Castillo
?You have your various equipments that you need to use for example, your glucose meter that you use for testing. While the glucose meter may no be expensive the strips that are used with the glucose meter are very costly at this time. We think that government should put a hand in with making these strips available and at a reasonable cost. Without the strips you are not able to test as often as you should, and with not testing chances are you will catch complications.?

According to the Ministry of Health those complications are the leading cause of hospitalization in the country.

World Diabetes Day was observed under the theme “Diabetes in the Disadvantaged and the Vulnerable”. The activity is part of Diabetes Week that will conclude on Friday.