THE Ministry of Health on Sunday held its Diabetes Symposium, which sought to provide an introduction to the new guidelines for diabetes management in Guyana.

According to a post on the ministry’s official Facebook page, the accredited Continuing Medical Education (CME) activity, which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, attracted several medical professionals including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and others who care for diabetes patients.

The ministry said that the Director of Chronic Disease and Non-Communicable Diseases Dr. Lachmie Lall who was present at the symposium, said the CME sessions focused on overlooked topics in diabetes management, especially those concerning maternal and women’s health.

The director explained that the health ministry and Mount Sinai Health Systems spent the past months revising and gathering inputs from local physicians to develop the new guidelines which will be rolled out and implemented at health facilities in 2025.

The symposium covered a range of topics including gestational diabetes: current guidelines for screening, diagnosis and management, which was done by Dr. Judy Hung; heart failure and myocardial disease: current approaches done by Dr. J.R. Wilentz; diabetes and gynecological cancer risk: understanding the link and optimising preventative care by Dr. Shivani Samlall; and a joint lifestyle management of atherosclerotic heart disease and diabetes and diabetic neuropathy by Dr. J.R. Wilentz and Dr. David Heller.

In closing her remarks, Dr. Lall encouraged the attendees to share their thoughts and suggestions as their input is essential for the successful implementation of the guidelines.

According to the ministry, the session marks the beginning of a process that will culminate in the rollout of these guidelines in the near future.

The CME is by definition educational activities which serve to maintain, develop or increase the knowledge, skills, and professional performance and relationships a physician uses to provide services for patients, the public and the profession.