Dear Doc,
I have always heard it said that Barbados is the amputation capital of the world, and in this magazine I have read of people who have reversed their diabetic condition. Given the statistics, would you say that the trend of reversing diabetes in Barbados is making a difference? Is there a trend though?
Does the medical fraternity preach reversing the condition, or is it that people with diabetes just do not take their condition seriously enough to want to reverse it? Are the numbers of diabetics coming down or increasing? – Stan Dear Stan, The answer is a mixture of all the points you highlighted.
No one group can take the blame, but we all have a role to play in making a positive change. As great as medications for diabetes have become, their positive impact is greatest in combination with a healthy diet and exercise.
Yes, type 2 diabetes is reversible in some individuals and many studies have proven this; however, it takes significant changes in eating habits. Some individuals struggle with this while others can implement with ease and have been able to stop use of insulin to medications alone or from multiple medications to one drug in controlling their diabetes.
I have to say our country has made some tremendous strides in trying to change our habits, for one, in the implementation of certain laws such as banning the sale of sodas in schools. Adults have a harder time making changes than children. Therefore, it is thought that intervening earlier in our population can have great benefits in the long run in changing our statistics. Prevention is better than cure.
We recently have the formation of the Childhood Obesity Prevention programme which works in conjunction with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to make positive change in the lives of our children who are obese and hence at risk for type 2 diabetes.
