The bitter reality of sugar - Amputee sends poignant World Diabetes Day message

Kingston resident Keisha Syblis was diagnosed with diabetes at age 13. She has lost a leg to the the disease which is affecting the lives of millions of people and burdening healthcare systems across the Caribbean.

In 2019, according to the World Health Organization, 1.5 million lives were lost to diabetes globally. The Caribbean has one of the highest prevalence rates of diabetes in the world, with many individuals unknowingly living with the condition. Factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and limited access to healthcare have contributed to this alarming rise.

Syblis, 44, noted that while diabetes can be hereditary, it can be contracted through a person's eating pattern and overall lifestyle. She has sounded a dire warning to Jamaicans -- telling her countrymen that there is nothing sweet about sugar.

"Leggo the fast food and cook healthy foods. Eating healthy doesn't mean expensive, but a trip to the doctor can be," the diabetes fighter told THE STAR.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, in his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament in May, said that an estimated 236,000 or nine per cent of the country's population have diabetes, and only 106,000 of these persons, or 45 per cent, are aware of their status. Additionally, Tufton said that 95,030 have one or more complications related to diabetes. These complications, based on expert advice, are likely to lead to amputation, chronic kidney disease, and heart attack.

Dr Joy St John, executive director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency, said the burden of diabetes is not limited to mortality.

"This disease can adversely affect both the quality and length of your life, and that of your family. If you are diabetic, following your treatment regimen and keeping your blood glucose and blood pressure under control are important to avoid serious complications of the disease," said St John said.

With today being observed as World Diabetes Day, Syblis, a resident of Fletchers Land, told THE STAR that she wants to share her story with Jamaicans for them to understand the debilitating nature of the disease.

"I would want to go in the school and give pep talks because I see where things like cup soups are being sold in some tuck shops and the kids buy them for breakfast. Nothing about that is healthy. We see a lot of sweet and unhealthy stuff being sold outside clinic gates and that not helping a soul. For those who don't have diabetes, there are ways how it can be prevented and it starts with educating yourself about it. Avoid certain foods," she said.

At the same time, Syblis has sought to encourage persons who are living with the disease not to give up on themselves.

"Take your medication as prescribed and eat as healthy as you can. Cut down on salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, and exercise. Diabetes doesn't have anything to do with age, so remember you are not too young," she said.