RECENT studies conducted by the University of the West Indies (UWI), which have indicated that one in four persons in some Caricom countries has diabetes, are, by any stretch of the imagination, worrying news; and point strongly to the need for the region to urgently ramp up efforts to roll back the non-communicable disease.Diabetes remains a huge burden on healthcare budgets in the North America and Caribbean Region (NAC); according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), some 37 million people in the region have the disease. Moreover, it has been estimated that, over the next 20 years, the number of affected persons is expected to increase by close to 40 per cent.

It is within this light that the findings of the UWI studies on this silent killer are not too surprising, although worryingly, it has shown that the disease is pacing at a staggering and alarming rate. Given the findings, it is time that the region, both individually and collectively, join forces to implement programmes to robustly tackle this problem, beginning at the early levels in the school system.

This would be more than useful, as early education on healthy eating and lifestyle habits would go a far way in informing the current generation of young people on how they can keep diabetes at bay.

And efforts in this direction are needed sooner, rather than later, if the region is to make any notable strides in addressing this health burden.

Further, and quite disturbingly, the UWI studies also found that children are at risk. It notes that there has been a steady increase in the number of overweight and obese children under five years, as well as high rates in adolescence.

Obesity is one of the major risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes, which accounts for 90 per cent of the 415 million people affected worldwide.
Against the backdrop of the UWI studies, Guyana needs to take stock, and scale up its awareness programme against this disease.

Statistics in the public domain are pointing for more action in this regard, since there appears to be an indication that the disease has been on the increase in Guyana.

While no reliable data is available for 2015, the IFD had reported that Guyana recorded 60,100 cases of diabetes in adults in 2013, and a further 61,800 cases the following year.

It is not clear whether there has been an increase or decrease in the number of cases last year, but the data has indicated a need for persons to pay greater attention to their health, and for Government to consider implementing policy measures to tackle this health problem.

The latter would make both health and economic sense if the administration were to move in this direction. It is no secret that most of the foods imported here are high in sugar and other elements which contribute to obesity, thereby making consumers very vulnerable to diabetes.

What the Government can do to address this situation is to impose a heavy tariff on imported foods that are high in sugar, iodine and fat; or simply put a restriction on their importation.

The ironic thing is that most of these foods can be manufactured right here, and can be done in keeping with the required standards to keep diabetes at bay.
This will be an important step in significantly reducing the prevalence of diabetes in Guyana, and in doing so will significantly cut Government’s spending to tackle this problem, which eats up millions of dollars every year.

In the US and Europe, foods balanced in sugar, iodine, fat and carbohydrates can be found on the shelves of stores and supermarkets. Why can’t the same happen in Guyana when we produce and can process many of these same foods?