{"id":162261,"date":"2022-11-14T07:03:06","date_gmt":"2022-11-14T11:03:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=162261"},"modified":"2022-11-14T07:03:06","modified_gmt":"2022-11-14T11:03:06","slug":"world-diabetes-day-nations-weakness-for-sugar-is-fuelling-a-health-crisis-says-heart-stroke-foundation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/world-diabetes-day-nations-weakness-for-sugar-is-fuelling-a-health-crisis-says-heart-stroke-foundation\/","title":{"rendered":"World Diabetes Day: Nation\u2019s weakness for sugar is fuelling a health crisis, says Heart & Stroke Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sugary drinks, pastries and fast food may be firmly entrenched in the national diet. But with more than one in 10 of the country\u2019s population now suffering from diabetes, local medics say overindulgence is helping fuel a health crisis.<\/p>

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Alarming statistics from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) indicate that 13 percent of people living in Antigua and Barbuda are diabetic, putting them at increased risk of heart attack, chronic kidney disease, blindness and stroke.<\/p>\n

As the globe marks World Diabetes Day on Monday, the Heart and Stroke Foundation is placing the spotlight firmly on preventative measures.<\/p>

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What might be heaven on the taste buds is not so sweet on the heart, says Foundation president and consultant cardiologist Dr Georgette Meade.<\/p>

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\u201cDiabetes increases your chance of having a heart attack by two to three times. It can also affect the eyes leading to blindness, along with stroke and nerve damage,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

In some cases, diabetes can lead to\u00a0peripheral arterial disease which causes the blood vessels to narrow, reducing blood flow to the legs and feet.<\/p>

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\u201cWe see quite a few cases where diabetes results in amputation of limbs,\u201d Dr Meade says.<\/p>\n

World Diabetes Day\u00a0is marked annually on November 14 to raise public awareness about the illness, its symptoms and how to prevent it.<\/p>

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\u201cWe have seen an increase in diabetes in recent years and the biggest contributor is an unhealthy diet that\u2019s high in sugar,\u201d Dr Meade continues.<\/p>

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Sweetened drinks, candy, bread, white rice and pasta are among the major culprits, she explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople should always monitor the labels on the food and drinks they buy; they would be surprised to see how much sugar they contain.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo many people, even after being diagnosed with diabetes, are still eating foods they know they shouldn\u2019t,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important to have regular screenings and medical checks even if you have no symptoms. And don\u2019t wait until you\u2019re in your 40s; you can start getting check-ups in your 20s.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrevention is key because once you have established diabetes, you are at risk of developing complications. People are still not taking their health as seriously as they should.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regular exercise and limiting one\u2019s alcohol consumption are also vital, Dr Meade adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cGone are the days when type two diabetes was considered something that affects persons aged 40 and over,\u201d says Dr Tadia Smith, a friend of the Foundation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are finding younger persons getting it now. A recent health fair diagnosed some as young as 16 with diabetes who didn\u2019t feel any symptoms so wouldn\u2019t have known without the screening.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Smith is appealing to community clinics to organise regular health fairs at local schools to check children\u2019s blood pressure, blood sugar, eyesight and BMI, along with sharing nutritional advice.<\/p>\n

Initiatives such as food label-reading sessions and \u2018drink only water\u2019 day would also reap dividends in youngsters\u2019 health and wellbeing, she says.<\/p>\n

Too many unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks are being sold on school compounds, Dr Smith continues.<\/p>\n

\u201cA healthy lifestyle doesn\u2019t happen overnight; it comes with practice. It\u2019s OK to eat shawarmas and other fast food but in moderation, say twice a month. Cooking at home is healthier and saves you money too,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a lot of obesity among schoolchildren, which means greater risk of diabetes and heart disease. It\u2019s crucial to screen for all these things, while making sure our children are getting enough exercise, enough sleep and drinking enough water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Smith adds, \u201cHaving diabetes doesn\u2019t affect just one part of the body; it\u2019s a systemic disease that affects the eyes, the brain, every part of you.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t wait for November 14; increasing awareness every day of the year will see better outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Saleem Hughes, Consultant Paediatrician at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, agrees.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrevention is the best cure. To those persons who are not known to have diabetes, be sure to get your yearly health checks, keep your weight under control, exercise more, maintain a healthy diet, avoid habits such as smoking and alcohol use,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo those living with diabetes: You are not alone. Be active, eat right, track your blood sugars, adhere to your treatment plan. You can live a normal life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Hughes says 31 diabetics aged 25 and under have been identified to date in Antigua and Barbuda.<\/p>\n

\u201cType one diabetes is a genetic condition that shows up early in life, whereas type two is mainly lifestyle-related and develops over time,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith increased childhood obesity we are seeing an increase in type two diabetes in childhood.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us instil healthy lifestyle practices in our youths. Research has shown that maintaining a healthy weight, doing at least 30 minutes of physical activity five days a week and eating healthy foods most of the time can prevent or delay type two diabetes.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet us aim to stop it before it starts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The country\u2019s Heart and Stroke Foundation was established in February 2020 to act as a voice and support system for patients and their families, raise funds, stage community events, and conduct local research into the prevalence of heart disease and stroke.<\/p>\n

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Sugary drinks, pastries and fast food may be firmly entrenched in the national diet. But with more than one in 10 of the country\u2019s population now suffering from diabetes, local medics say overindulgence is helping fuel a health crisis. 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