Diabetes Fiji Wary Of Increase
Diabetes Fiji is trying its best to address the increase in the number of diabetics in the country.
Diabetes Fiji, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, conducted a one-day training on Thursday for 24 dieticians from around Fiji to up-skill them on the prevention of diabetes.
Diabetes Fiji project manager Viliame Qio said diabetes had been a leading non-communicable disease in Fiji – one in every three person being diabetic.
“Our youngest diabetic patient is only 13 years old who has Type 2 diabetes, so that also tells that in Fiji people around this age can be very susceptible to diabetes because of their lifestyle practices,” Mr Qio said.
He said school dieticians had also noted an increase in child obesity and the uncontrolled amount of junk foods sold in schools.
“This increases the prevalence of diabetes among our young people in years to come because of poor eating habit and sedentary lifestyle. A study showed an increase in the consumption of sugar sweetened beverage among adolescents due to its wide availability,” Mr Qio said.
He said they were trying to address gestational diabetes which were on the rise among pregnant women.
“Those pregnant women who have gestational diabetes are susceptible to getting Type 2 diabetes over two to three years. We have come up with an intervention approach that deals mostly with their nutrition, physical activity, spiritual approach and stress management with our diabetic patients,” Mr Qio said.
