World Diabetes Day is Thursday November 14^th. If it hadn’t been for the timely message by Osbourne Bodden, Cayman’s Minister of Health, it would have passed me by without a thought.

In the Minister’s message he points to some very alarming figures:

Around the globe 371 million people and their families are living with diabetes.

280 million are at high risk of developing the disease.

In Cayman the Health Services Authority (HSA) is currently treating approximately 2,000 diabetic patients.

Health officials estimate that an equal number is receiving care through private practitioners.

The Chronic Disease Risk Factor Survey completed in 2012, in which 10 % of adults aged 25-64 years, reported having been diagnosed with diabetes. This amounts to 3,500 people.

Staggering isn’t it?

I wonder why there has been no spirited awareness campaign

Last Tuesday (12) we mentioned diabetes in passing in a story we published on the up and coming Cayman Marathon. Team Diabetes Canada were coming here to participate for the third consecutive year and raise funds for diabetes awareness in their country.

So what are we in Cayman doing?

The Cayman Islands Diabetes Association (C.I.D.A.) has a website where it states that:

“As the offical Cayman Islands member of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), C.I.D.A. takes part in celebrating World Diabetes Day (WDD) every year on November 14th.  As well as participating in their “Blue Lighting Monument Challenge” where by different landmarks and/or buildings are lit blue to create diabetes awareness.  In addition, during the month of November to help raise awareness for diabetes C.I.D.A. has an annual 5K Walk/Run and a Children’s Poster Competition.”

That is it. There is no information of any event they are executing to celebrate WDD. There is no more information on the website regarding the annual 5K Walk/Run and a Children’s Poster Competition

iNews Cayman is relatively new in the media field here but we have been in existence for 2 and ½ years. We have never received any information from the C.I.D.A. in all that time.

Diabetes is a chronic illness and we want to help.

So should you readers. You might already have diabetes or be a certain candidate to get it. Let’s start by making everyone aware.

There is a wealth of information on the Internet on how to prevent diabetes.

Go on line and ask the question “Can diabetes be prevented?” in your favourite search engine.

Most of the answers place the following at the top of their lists:

Control Your Weight

Get Moving

Tune Up Your Diet

If You Smoke, Try to Quit

In the coming weeks iNews will be publishing a number of articles on the subject.  Please read. It might even save your life.