Annually, World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14 across the world.

According to the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), it is an opportunity to raise awareness about the impact of diabetes on the health of people. It also seeks to highlight the opportunities to strengthen the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes.

This year, the theme is ‘Education to Protect Tomorrow’.

PAHO calls for the need to strengthen access to quality education on diabetes, both for the health team and for people living with diabetes, their caregivers, and society in general.

In a new report by PAHO, growing rates of obesity, poor diets, and lack of physical activity, among other factors, have contributed to a more than three-fold increase in the number of adults living with diabetes in the Americas in the past 30 years.

The report, which was released in the run up to World Diabetes Day (November 14) calls for countries to improve early diagnosis, increase access to quality care for diabetes control, and develop strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and nutrition.

At least 62 million people live with diabetes in the Americas, a number which is expected to be much higher given that around 40 per cent of those with the disease are unaware they have the condition. If current trends continue, the number of people with diabetes in the region is projected to reach 109 million by 2040.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes often referred to as ‘sugar’ in Jamaica, is a disease that impairs the body’s ability to use food.

The hormone insulin (which is made in the pancreas) is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

In people with diabetes, either the pancreas doesn’t make insulin, or the body cannot use insulin properly.

Without insulin, sugar – the body’s main energy source builds up in the blood. The cause of diabetes is unknown, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles. 

There are two major types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2.

Type 1 – Most often appears during childhood or adolescence. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections to stay alive. 

Type 2 – Most often appears after age 40. However, it is no longer considered an adult only disease. Type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity and physical inactivity – both of which can be modified to improve health. 

Non-communicable diseases (NCD) have emerged as the leading cause of death in Jamaica over the past years, diabetes being among them.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness has put in place a number of initiatives geared towards the control of diabetes in Jamaica.

In 2019, the Government placed a ban on sugary drinks which prevents drinks containing a certain type of syrup from being sold in schools and at health facilities.

The Ministry of Health and Wellness launched the Jamaica Moves campaign, which focused on community-level interventions to facilitate increased physical activity among the population.

Organisations have been lobbying for front-of-package labelling as a means to reduce diabetes and other NCDs in Jamaica.

There has also been an increase in advertising, with several television commercials highlighting the negative impact too much sugar can have on individuals’ health.

As Jamaica continues to grapple with its diabetes crisis, this World Diabetes Day, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is calling for policymakers to increase access to diabetes education to help improve the lives of the more than half a billion people living with diabetes worldwide.