Four out of 10 persons don’t know they have diabetes

Elizabeth Marzouka, 55, has been in a fight with diabetes for over 30 years.

The Bayshore Park, Harbour View resident became aware of having the disease during her third pregnancy in 1994, which resulted in the child's death.

Later on, she lost sight in one of her eyes and had to amputate one of her feet.

"My body was just too sweet, and it was just deteriorating. If me get a one scrape, it turn out in a big sore. Doctors told me that the blood that was flowing through me was too sweet, so I shouldn't eat anything to add to that. Diabetes take weh me baby, it take weh me foot and I don't see out of one of my eyes. Diabetes do me so much things," Marzouka told THE STAR.

Diabetes, referred to as 'sugar' in Jamaica, affects the body's ability to use food. It is a chronic medical condition which can lead to blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage, and is the second-leading cause of death for Jamaicans under the age of 70.

The 2016-17 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey revealed that one in eight Jamaicans, aged 15 years and older, has diabetes. However, only four out of every 10 persons with the disease are unaware that they have it.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said that some 92 per cent of Jamaicans 15 years and older with the disease are on treatment, but only 27.5 per cent are controlled.

"As we turn the spotlight on diabetes this November, we must acknowledge the scale of the problem of non-communicable diseases facing us and redouble our efforts to solve it, drawing on all our resources, including our nurses, who are essential not only as healthcare providers but also as professionals on whom we can rely for the promotion of self-care management among patients with diabetes," the minister said.

World Diabetes Day was observed on Saturday. This year, the campaign focuses on promoting the role of nurses in supporting and caring for persons living with diabetes.

Tufton said that his ministry will be working on increasing access to testing for diabetes, through the introduction of point-of-care testing. He emphasised that lifestyle behaviour is critical to manage the risk of diabetes, and recommended increased physical activity, a healthy diet, routine health checks and strict adherence to medication.