Much work needed to reverse Fiji's diabetes rate

Transcript

The head of Diabetes Fiji says a lot needs to be done in order to reverse the country's high rate of diabetes - estimated to be about one-in-three adults.

The organisation yesterday launched a new website and is encouraging all Fijians who have been diagnosed with diabetes to register.

The president of Diabetes Fiji, Dr Wahid Khan, told Jamie Tahana there is no national register of diabetics in Fiji, which is a first step in reversing the high rates.

DR WAHID KHAN: If you visit the website it tells you to register and if you are a diabetic you can register with us. There is no register of diabetics in Fiji and this will form a basis for a natural register in Fiji which we can share with the Ministry of Health. But this is a starter.

JAMIE TAHANA: When you say there is no actual register of diabetics in Fiji does that mean there is no real idea of the prevalence?

DWK: We have an idea of prevalence, we are looking at one in three in Fiji. But we don't have the actual numbers and names of people and where they are. We have an idea where there is a higher prevalence of diabetes, in which districts you know. But we need to be very proactive to register every diabetic in the country. To be able to access them and give them the right advice in terms of how to control their condition.

JT: One in three adults in Fiji are diabetic that is an incredible high rate isn't it?

DWK: It is high and it needs to be worked on and we are seeing a lot of complications. In fact Fiji has been touted as having the highest level of amputations for diabetics you know. So we don't have a snapshot of what our diabetics are living with.

JT: What is behind the high rate of diabetes in Fiji?

DWK: I tell you I qualified in 1979 as a doctor. When I qualified the type 2 diabetes was unheard of in young people it would be in the more in the 50 and above range. Today the youngest diabetic in Fiji is 12 years old. So in the Pacific type 2 diabetes has taken over as a huge issue and type 2 diabetes is basically a lifestyle illness you know and we want to work on that.

JT: What needs to be done to address, as you say, a boom in the rate of diabetes in Fiji?

DWK: We can halt this tsunami but we cannot reverse it. I think reversal will be done in the next generation and that means we have to work on the younger generation. Because we ourselves are a lost generation. If we can halt this tsunami and work on the younger people in the schools you know start proposals in the schools then we can eventually say hey, we see some results in terms of reversing the trend.