Madras Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (MIOT) Pacific Medical brought in two renowned doctors from India last weekend.

The doctors, who are respected specialists in the fields of diabetology and nutritionist, are here to help the private hospital in its efforts to provide checkups for local patients. Dr Sridhar, a Diabetology and Endocrinology specialist and Dr Deepa Sairaj, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics specialist, are currently in the country under MIOT Pacific medical.

Dr Sridhar, while relating his observation to Fiji, said now, the more concerning factor of diabetes was that the trend of patients was going towards the teenage age groups.

“What we have noticed over the years, is that now the cases we are seeing for diabetes are now not the older people, but rather the younger ones, teenagers even,” Dr Sridhar said.

“90 per cent is Type Two diabetes, and another 10 per cent come under Type One.”

According to recent data by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, about 30 per cent of Fijians are diabetic and another 32 per cent are obese.

“Earlier, we used to classify obesity according to their body mass index, below 25 kilogram is fine, but now there is another type of obesity known as visceral obesity,” he said.

Dr Sairajb is encouraging Fijians to visit them for check-up in relation to visceral obesity. Tracking statistics and studying them is one of her tasks when it comes to determining issues relating to the diet of individuals.

“I specialise in an advanced, credentialed professional and promote healthy lifestyles by guiding people to smart food choices,” Dr Sairajb said.

“The concerns right now for Fiji are the high numbers of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases.”

Dr Sairajb also brought in an advanced instant check-up machine – the Body Composition Test machine – the only one in Fiji.

The machine allows patients to receive their nutrition results without taking a blood test.

Body Composition Machine.

Fiji’s Diabetic Trend

One in three Fijians have been diagnosed with diabetes.

The World Life Expectancy ranking indicates 24.7 per cent of fatalities in Fiji are connected to diabetes.

Obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes and 66.9 per cent of Fijians have been diagnosed as obese.

In addition to having an effect on quality of life, diabetes and obesity are the root causes of numerous other health issues.

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