BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday, 5th September 2024) -The St. Kitts Diabetes Association is preparing to hold an information session on diabetes and proper nutrition at its first quarterly meeting.
“It’s crucial for people to understand how their diet can directly impact their health, and we’ll have experts to break it down. We’ll be focusing on the importance of proper nutrition in managing diabetes,” said medical practitioner Dr. Reginald O’Loughlin, Public Relations Officer of the St. Kitts Diabetes Association during an interview with this media house on Thursday 5th September 2024.
As understood, the event dubbed ‘Diabetes & Good Eating Habits’- scheduled for Sunday 13th October 2024 at the Old Girls School on Victoria Road at 3:00PM sharp, will include a nutritionist and other wellness experts on the panel, who will address not only what to eat, but also how much, when, and why for effective diabetes management.
He shared that the meeting is open to not just those personally affected by diabetes but also family members, friends and anyone with an interest in learning about diabetes management and prevention.
Quizzed about the relevance of such a health event, he pointed to the high prevalence of diabetes in St. Kitts-Nevis makes this discussion particularly relevant.
‘Well, put it this way, with about 3,000 people with diabetes, I can’t think of something more relevant. That number exceeds the total number of cancers along with the total number of many other conditions. So, you know, as much as cancer is very important, HIV is very important, but we have about 10% of the adult population living with diabetes.
He added: “And with all the amputations we hear about, with all the kidney failures, there are about 42 people on dialysis right now in the hospital, and about half of them are diabetic. But if only by chance people were aware as to what you can do to lower your chances of complications, eating right, exercising regularly, taking a medication test which are the messages which you try to put on to the person…”
He continued: “These complications are preventable with proper care. People need to be more aware of the importance of eating right, exercising, taking their medication and monitoring their blood sugar.”
Asked about the symptoms associated with diabetes, he indicated that the condition is often referred to as a silent killer because symptoms can go unnoticed until complications arise.
Dr. O’Loughlin emphasized the need for greater awareness, saying, “Diabetes is a silent killer. Symptoms like frequent urination, weight loss, and slow-healing wounds are often overlooked until it’s too late.”
The St. Kitts Diabetes Association invites the public to attend the upcoming meeting to learn more about managing and preventing complications from this serious condition.
Front Page Image: Used for illustration purpose only shows a healthy lifestyle of proper diabetes management through healthy foods and medication (Source: endocrine.org)