Diabetes can strike anyone, from any walk of life. And it does – in numbers that are dramatically increasing. In the last decade, the cases of people living with diabetes jumped more than 40 percent – to almost 26 million Americans.
Worldwide, it afflicts 382 million people. And the World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, the number of people living with diabetes will more than double.
It is estimated that there are about twenty seven thousand (27,000) known diabetics in Barbados.
The Barbados Diabetes Foundation
The Barbados Diabetes Foundation was formed in order to conduct the affairs of the Diabetes Center. It was a requirement that the Foundation, in addition to carrying out its stated goals, should be sustainable. Having secured the support of Government in terms of a subvention for the first 5 years and a lease of a parcel of government land at the Enmore complex, Dr Jordan and his colleagues established a plan which would govern the activities of the Foundation for foreseeable the future.
The Diabetes Centre is a new concept in diabetes management in the Caribbean. One other Centre exists, (in Jamaica), but this model functions as a multidisciplinary clinic where the services supplied are paid for by the clients who attend, and the center itself is rented out to the service suppliers to generate funds for its upkeep.
The Diabetes Association of Barbados
The Diabetes Association of Barbados was founded in April 1975 by Mr. John Grace, Mr. Hugh Mapp, the Late Mrs. Dorothy Talma-Monteil, Mr. Don Norville and Mr. Wilfred Ferguson, because they recognized that literature was available for free distribution, but persons suffering with Diabetes were not receiving the necessary attention or guidance for their illness.
The Headquarters of the Association is at "Jessamine Cot", Cnr. Jessamine Avenue, Beckles Road, St. Michael.
The main aim of the Association is to educate persons suffering with Diabetes to properly manage and control their diabetes. All persons suffering with this disease are encouraged and advised, that through proper diet, exercise, taking care of their feet, and taking their medication, they can live longer lives and avoid the many complications to which persons with diabetes are prone.
The Association has an outreach programme to schools, churches, businesses, insurance companies, banks, and government offices or anyone who requests its services, especially at various health awareness programmes. It also participates in the Nation’s Publishing Co. Healthy Lifestyle Extravaganza each year.
