( L - R ) Wright-Pascoe, Bailey

As the world observes today as Diabetes Day, the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) says it is concerned that there will be an increase in the number of children living with Type Two diabetes because of their lifestyle.

According to Dr. Rosemarie Wright-Pascoe, president of the MAJ, obesity was the major cause for the increase in the number of children living with diabetes.

She noted that this was as a result of the increasing sedentary lifestyle of children as they no longer go outside and play but instead sit around the computer and play games, watch television, among other things.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas do not produce enough insulin, or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.

There are two types of diabetes: Type One and Two. Type One diabetes is characterised by a lack of insulin production. Without daily administration of insulin, Type One diabetes is rapidly fatal.

Diabetes Symptoms

Symptoms include excessive excretion of urine (polyuria), thirst (polydipsia), constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue. These symptoms may occur suddenly.

Type Two diabetes results from the body's ineffective use of insulin. Type Two diabetes comprises 90 per cent of people with diabetes around the world, and is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.

Diabetes is the second leading cause of death in Jamaica, with more than 300,000 persons living with the lifestyle disease.

But, according to Dr. Alverston Bailey, immediate past president of the MAJ, the problem with diabetes in Jamaica is not with the availability of treatment, but with compliance.

"Availability of drug has never been a problem. It has always been affordable," Dr. Bailey said.

However, he noted that in the past, persons who are financially challenged found it difficult to refill medications. But this is no longer the case with the introduction of the National Health Fund and the Jamaica Drug for the Elderly Programme, where some 300,000 persons benefit from low cost drugs.

Diabetes requires continuous care and patients have to take medication daily for the rest of their lives. Dr. Bailey said diabetes is a patient-centred disease and requires a dramatic change in lifestyle and most patients find it difficult to truly comply.