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Diabetes Workshop Reveals Much Concern

A two-day Diabetes Workshop this week revealed much concern there is, among health providers and members of the island’s populace, about the prevalence of diabetes in Anguilla.

L-R: Nurses Lynette and Dana, Dr. Goddard, Mrs. Less, Louis Hamilton and Miss. Campbell

One of the first starling revelations was given by Chief Executive Officer of the Health Authority of Anguilla, Dexter James. During the opening ceremony on Monday, he told participants that a patient on dialysis usually requires at least three treatment sessions per week at a cost of EC$940 per session. The estimated cost of treatment is EC$150,000 per annum per patient. “Consider the impact that this will have on the financial and other resources of the island if urgent steps are not taken in the early detection and treatment of this medial condition,” he stated.

Currently there are ten patients receiving dialysis treatment in Anguilla – eight from here and two from Nevis. James said diabetes ranked fourth in health conditions in Anguilla. It can cause heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputations and other complications.

The workshop was held by the Anguilla Diabetes Association. President Lynette Rogers told The Anguillian that it was agreed that as part of the organisation’s activities every year there should be a public education forum “to teach people about diabetes and its impact on the island …and to have them realise that even though they are diabetic they can live healthily.”

Nurse Rogers said that while the association was working hard it had not yet reached its goals. She stated that “many people do not feel that diabetes as a disease on the island is important but as I keep on saying, diabetes is not a money-maker it is a money-taker and people are not helping us to achieve our goals.”

Aside from this, however, the association has plenty professional help in getting across its message and concern to the public. For the workshop, for example, the association brought in Lurline Less of Jamaica and Dr. Charles Goddard of Barbados as facilitators.

Mrs. Less is Executive Chairperson of the Diabetes Association of Jamaica and Secretary of the North American Region in which Anguilla is included. She spoke about her personal experience as a diabetic for the past twenty years on Tuesday, and on Wednesday on the benefits of proper glucose control. She advised the public to work with the Anguilla Diabetes Association which receives information on all recent studies from the International Diabetes Federation. She stressed that the most important persons in diabetes management were those affected by the diabetes.

The workshop programme on Tuesday included the following presentations: Medical Management of Diabetes by Dr. Guinto; Medications in Diabetes Management by Mrs Petal Kendall; and Personal Experiences by Mrs. Lurline Less; Nutrition in Diabetes Management by Ms Robertha Campbell, Dietetic Technician at the Princess Alexandra Hospital; Diabetes and Employment by Timothy Hodge, Director of Social Security; and Team Approach in Diabetes Management by Goddard.

The presentations on Wednesday were: Exercise by Louis Price; Family Support in Diabetes Management by Mrs. Civilla Kentish; Diabetes Management and Diabilities by Nurse Lynette Rogers; Keeping Your Feet Healthy by Ms Margaret Ouwehand; Psychological and Spiritual Management by Ms Monique Rey; and Management of Gestational Diabetes by Dr. Brett Hodge. All presentation sessions were followed by a question and answer period.

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