Diabetes Awareness

Nov 13, 2015

By Stephanie Simons,
Head Pharmacist,
Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire

November 14 is World Diabetes Day. We take this opportunity to educate the public about this chronic disease. Last year, there was a reported 6,900 cases of diabetes in Bermuda, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). This is nearly 10 per cent of the population in Bermuda, and the number of cases is expected to rise in the coming years. In fact, the IDF estimated that in 2014, there were an additional 1,900 undiagnosed cases of diabetes in Bermuda.

The prevalence of diabetes in adults is higher in Bermuda than it is around the world. This is a result of our lifestyle and we need to make a serious change to improve the health of our community. To start, we must understand this disease, its risks, symptoms, treatment and how best to prevent its onset.

Diabetes & Its Implications

Diabetes results from the body’s inability to produce or process the hormone insulin. During digestion, the carbohydrates we eat are broken down into the simple sugar known as glucose. Insulin helps regulate the level of glucose in our blood, so that our bodies can produce energy from the foods that we eat. In people with diabetes, glucose levels are not managed naturally and this may lead to serious health complications, including heart disease, kidney failure and blindness. Worldwide, diabetes results in almost five million deaths each year. (more…)