Health
Diabetes Association findsstrength and better health in numbers
It's a subtle distinction, but it makesa huge difference to persons who have, or know someone who has,diabetes.
By changing the last two letters in the word diabetic, a recentlyrejuvenated Association tells the community that it's open toeveryone who wants to know more about the condition.
"It's called the Cayman Islands DiabetesAssociation, not the Diabetic Association," emphasised itssecretary, Mrs. Dorla Anderson. "A person doesn't have tobe diabetic to be a member. The information and support can helpanyone from someone who actually has the condition to aperson who is, for example, caring for a parent or spouse withdiabetes."
The Association's meetings are held at 6p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at George Town TownHall. People of all "ages, colours and creeds," as Mrs.Anderson put it, come to hear current and solid information fromhealth practitioners to help them manage their symptoms. Justas importantly, they receive support from persons who know whatthey're going through.
The CIDA's purpose is to improve the livesand offer support to people with diabetes and their families andto work toward a future without diabetes. The monthly meetingsare one step toward fulfilling that objective; in addition Associationmembers liaise with Government, including the Ministry of Health,to ensure the diabetic community's needs are met. The CIDA alsoproduces educational resources such as pamphlets.
Furthermore, Mrs. Anderson noted that theassociation raises the level of awareness and reduces ignoranceand prejudice through participation in community events such asWorld Diabetes Day, held annually in November. It also has joinedthe 175-member International Diabetes Federation, which operatesin 136 countries. The international network ensures that localmembers receive the latest information on diabetes management.
Four persons are the CIDA's volunteer leaders Mrs. SylviaPerry, president; Mr. Godfrey McLean, vice-president; Mr. RudyMyles, treasurer and Mrs. Anderson who encourage all membersto participate in the association's activities. The Lions clubsalso continue to play a supportive role. As the association grows,it is hoped that their numbers will result in discounts on medicalsupplies and the convincing of health insurance companies to includediabetes as an insurable condition.
What happens at the meetings?
At the May meeting an Association membergreeted participants at the door, offering them pamphlets on variousdiabetes-related conditions as well as light refreshments. Shortlyafterward, Dr. Eugene Foley and Dr. Romain DeCock of the LionsEye Clinic trundled into the hall with slides, a screen and aprojector to not only explain, but also show images that detailedhow diabetes affects eyesight.
Impaired vision is a major complicationof diabetes; if left untreated, it can lead to blindness. Variousmedical treatments improve damaged eyesight, but prevention isbetter than cure, asserted the doctors.
Throughout the presentation, Dr. Foley answered each query participantsasked; according to Mrs. Perry, that give-and-take is vital toevery meeting. "When time permits, there's also a light-exercisesession to help persons connect fitness with successful diabetesmanagement," she added.
Indeed, it is this well-rounded approachthat attracts people to the meetings. For example, Mr. McLeannoted that he has been very aware of the condition for a longtime he cared for his diabetic mother for 30-plus years.However, at the first session he attended, he "got more informationin the first hour about what was available on the island thanwhat I knew before."
"They had a pharmacist there who gavea pep talk about the proper use of glucometers (a device thatmeasures blood sugars) and the importance of monitoring bloodsugars on a regular basis. It's that kind of support that I findhelpful," he said.
Giving assistance, gaining momentum
The association's board members have beeninformed by the Health Services Department that there are an estimated1,600 to 1,800 persons in the Cayman Islands who have, or aresuspected to have, diabetes. That does not account for individualsdiagnosed by private physicians. "It's a very high estimate,"acknowledged Mrs. Perry. "Lifestyles are a prime factor we in the Caribbean eat a lot of heavy foods and now that's supplementedwith a fast-food diet. We are also more sedentary today. But peopleare more open to talking about diabetes now than before."
Agreeing that the stigma of diabetes hasbeen lifted to a degree, Mrs. Anderson recalled: "When thefirst association was active, members contacted the supermarketsto ask them to specially display items that were good for diabetics.But people wouldn't even go to that aisle for fear others wouldidentify them as having the condition."
Today's awareness was built partly uponwork conducted 20 years ago by Dr. Victor Look Loy, then a governmentphysician and a number of Health Services staff including Mrs.Anderson. They would finish the workday and instead of going home,visit the districts to spread the message of diabetes preventionand management.
"Dr. Look Loy was concerned about thenumber of persons who were routinely readmitted into the hospitalbecause of diabetes complications," noted Mrs. Anderson."During the district visits, he would do some teaching. Theneach of us from the different disciplines dietary, physiotherapyand others would encourage people to understand the importanceof overall good health practices."
Ophthalmologist Dr. Krishna Mani and WestBay resident Mrs. Maxine Gouldbourne, the Association's firstpresident, were key persons in the promotion of diabetes education,Dr. Look Loy added. The Seventh-day Adventist Church, of whichMrs. Gouldbourne is a member, also supports diabetes management.
The reinvigorated CIDA is built upon thatcollaborative groundwork, affirmed Mrs. Perry, adding there aremany persons who could benefit from attending the meetings. "Althoughwe have much more knowledge of the condition, there are stillsome who do not want to accept that they, or someone they careabout, has diabetes.
"But hiding from it doesn't make it go away it worsensthe longer it is ignored. As an association, we are committedto helping people become more aware and supportive of personswith diabetes, as well as to closing the gap between knowledgeand behavioural change."
And again, this shift in thinking is notonly for persons with diabetes, Mrs. Anderson emphasised, butalso for those who do not have the condition. "Associationmembers and guest speakers help persons to take control of thecondition. However, we also want people who do not have diabetesto modify their behaviours as well for example, there isno need to exclude diabetics from community activities."
Most importantly, she said, the Associationwants people to understand that: "having diabetes is somethingthat can be managed. But your support is needed to ensure theCIDA's success." To speak with a member of the Association,please call 244-2663 or 947-9142.