THIRTY per cent of Fiji’s adult population are diabetic.
And 75 per cent of the afflicted have Type 2 diabetes — a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolises sugar — an important source of fuel for your body.
This revelation was made at the Diabetes, Disabilities and Support System Symposium at Lautoka’s University of the South Pacific campus yesterday.
Dr Ajesh Sen of the Lautoka Diabetic Hub Centre said diabetic patients also had some conditions that would expose them to a higher risk of contracting diabetes in their lives.
“A type of diabetes that people are not aware about is diabetes in pregnancy and this is something that needs to be addressed,” Dr Sen said.
“Pregnant mothers are presenting themselves late at hospitals and some even deliver at home and we need to be cautious because our lifestyle has changed so much.
“Ladies suffering from diabetes during pregnancy can actually transfer the sickness to their babies and could even lead to most serious complications and death of the foetus.”
Fiji will join many other countries today in commemorating the World Diabetes Day.
