Diabetes has become a major chronic illness across the globe and, as such, much resources and efforts have to be allocated to combat the associated illnesses and effects of this disease.

With global change in eating habits, physical activities, stress and obesity, the number of people that are afflicted with diabetes is on the increase.

The statistics associated with this disease is alarming and, from all indications, it is getting worse.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 346 million people worldwide have diabetes. In 2004, for instance, an estimated 3.4 million people died from the consequences of high blood sugar.

In addition,  more than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low and middle-income countries and WHO projects that diabetes deaths will double between 2005 and 2030 but noted that healthy diets, regular physical activity, maintaining a normal body weight and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes and its complications also have a significant economic impact on individuals, families, health systems and countries.

For example, WHO estimates that in the period 2006-2015, China will lose US$558 billion in foregone national income due to heart disease, stroke and diabetes alone.

What is a worrisome trend too is that diabetes among children appears to be on the increase and this, of course, is of grave concern.

While there is no cure for diabetes,  it can be controlled by medication combined with a healthy lifestyle comprising a proper diet and physical exercise.

Unfortunately, many who are afflicted by the disease are unaware of the systems and what should be done to control it thereby preventing other medical conditions to prevail.

Therefore it is clear that educating people, in particular children, needs to be intensified and more far-reaching because it is obvious that if people are aware of the symptoms and how to deal with the disease, then they would be in a better position of knowing what measures to adopt in controlling their condition.

Many people afflicted by the disease only realize this until it has reached an acute stage and, by this time, very little can be done from a medical standpoint. This is a most unfortunate reality.
On this note, Guyana’s Ministry of Health, in collaboration with private institutions, must be commended for the excellent initiative of hosting an annual youth camp for children living with Type I diabetes.
Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, speaking at the Youth Camp on Saturday last, stated:
“While we cannot promise to stop diabetes from ever happening, we can promise that diabetes will not take the lives of our children, and will not stop them from going on to being productive citizens of our country.”

“Together we will win this battle. We can be a healthier nation,” Dr Ramsammy charged.

The objective of the camp is to educate children and their care-givers to manage the condition, thus reducing susceptibility to other health challenges and risks associated with it, to ensure a better quality of health and life expectancy.

The camp is a refresher session organized with games that would not only teach the care-givers how to manage diabetes levels, but also to spread awareness that such a programme is present in Guyana.

This is indeed a very innovative method of educating and building awareness about diabetes and its adverse health effects and how this could be minimised or reduced.

Perhaps consideration should be given to a similar type of activity for adults affected by the disease because it means a much larger proportion of the diabetic affected population would be more educated and equipped to deal with the disease and they, in turn, could help others.

The Ministry of Health should give serious thought to this idea and if the resources could be garnered it should be expeditiously implemented.