Here in Jamaica, 70% of all deaths are due to one of the four major NCDs: lung disease, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. While cardiovascular diseases, like hypertension, are still the most common, over the last two decades, the prevalence of diabetes, a chronic condition which impacts how the body breaks down glucose or blood sugar, increased by 41.1% among Jamaicans 15 to 74 years old. This rate is expected to continue rising.
1) Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses in Jamaica.
“Diabetes is unfortunately quite prevalent in Jamaica,” says General Practitioner Dr Patrice Simmonds-Brooks. “According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the prevalence of diabetes in Jamaica was estimated to be 12.4% in 2019. This is higher than the overall prevalence in North America and the Caribbean, which is around 10.8%.” In 2022, the IDF reported that 11.9% of Jamaica's adult population had diabetes. In 2020, it was reported that 1 in 8 Jamaicans had diabetes.
2) Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in Jamaica.
In fact, it has been a top ten leading cause of death for over 50 years and a top two leading cause of death for at least 14 years. Back in 2016, diabetes accounted for 12.7% of all deaths. In 2020, that percentage increased to 13%. In all, diabetes was the foremost cause of death, surpassing cancer, killing 2,829 persons.
3) There are three main types:
Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t create enough insulin, the hormone that helps the body to turn glucose or sugar into energy. While it can develop in adults, it is typically found in childhood or adolescence. As such, it is also sometimes called “juvenile diabetes”. In 2016, they represented 5-10% of cases in Jamaica.
Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body becomes “insulin resistant”. Here, the pancreas makes enough insulin, but the body doesn’t respond properly to it. As such, glucose in the blood is not adequately broken down, leading to increased blood sugar levels (prediabetes). When blood sugar levels pass a certain amount, this becomes full-blown diabetes. It is the most common type of diabetes, affecting some 90% of diabetics.
Gestational diabetes occurs when, during pregnancy, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use the insulin produced effectively, causing blood sugar levels to rise. After pregnancy, your blood sugar levels will likely decrease, but...
4) Gestational diabetes can lead to Type 2 Diabetes down the line.
While your blood sugar levels are likely to fall after delivery, the pancreatic dysfunction is likely to remain. About half of women who have gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes.
5) It doesn’t always have symptoms.
“The most common symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurry vision,” says Dr Simmonds-Brooks. However, “some people may not experience any symptoms at all.” For example, gestational diabetes usually has no symptoms. Instead, doctors typically test for it between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy.
With Type 2 Diabetes, symptoms may take years to develop and may also include:
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Very dry skin
Slow-healing sores or cuts
Increased number of infections
For Type 1 diabetes, symptoms may take months to appear, but they may also appear in just a few weeks and be severe. Persons with Type 1 diabetes may also experience nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.
6) It can be caused by your lifestyle and habits.
While having a family history of Type 2 diabetes increases your risk, it is also considered to be a lifestyle disease as it can be brought on by your habits. From Dr Simmonds-Brooks: “In my view, the most common lifestyle risk factor for diabetes in Jamaica is a diet that is high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. This is in line with global trends in diabetes prevalence, which are strongly linked to unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.”
7) Diabetes can cause other health problems.
This is especially where it is uncontrolled. “Having uncontrolled diabetes increases your risk of developing urinary tract problems,” says Dr Elon Thompson, consultant urologist. “You are more likely to get infections and experience urinary incontinence.”
Being diabetic also increases the risk of developing erectile dysfunction. For women, it increases the risk of developing yeast infections. “In diabetics, vagin*l secretions contain more glucose due to higher amounts of glucose in the blood,” says Dr Robyn Khemlani, obstetrician gynaecologist. “Yeast cells are nourished by this excess glucose (as it acts as food for them), causing them to multiply and become a yeast infection.”
Dr Simmonds-Brooks: “The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults ages 35 to 70 years, especially those who are overweight or obese. If you have a family history (like a parent or sibling with diabetes), your doctor may recommend screening earlier.
Finally, she notes that “if you are experiencing symptoms like frequent urination, extreme thirst, extreme hunger, you should come in for an assessment,” regardless of age.
