16 Jun 2010

Fiji health survey suggest improved diabetes control

8:05 am on 16 June 2010

Fiji's Ministry of Health says there are some positives in a survey that suggests diabetes is being better controlled.

The survey by Fiji's Diabetes Foundation looked at registered cases of diabetes along the Suva-Nausori corridor in November last year.

It found 30 percent of cases were well-controlled, compared to 12.5 percent in 2002, and 25 percent had controlled their weight.

Dr Ifimeli Tukana, the Ministry of Health's non-communicable disease national advisor says while there are positives in the survey, there's still room for improvement.

"Nutritionally we do very badly on intake of fruits and vegetables even though there's an abundance of them in the country, so we are working on that one. Physical activity I mean most of our people have moved to urban areas and physical inactivity."

Dr Tukuna says they are working to improve diet and exercise in Fiji.