Diabetes mellitus 'fifth leading cause of death' in The Bahamas

By RIEL MAJOR

DIABETES mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death in The Bahamas, according to Health Minister Dr Duane Sands.

The Bahamas Podiatric Medical Association underscored the devastating impact of diabetes on feet during a conference at the University of the Bahamas yesterday.

“Foot complications are the source of major patient suffering, high emotion and financial costs to the individual and health care system," Dr Sands told the conference.

“We have seen the prevalence of diabetes increase from 6.7% to 9.2% in 2005 now to epidemic proportions of 13.6% in 2017. 37.9 deaths per 100,000 persons are due to diabetes.

Dr Sands continued: “Foot ulcers are the most prevalent problem, with a yearly incidence of around 2 - 4% and a lifetime incidence between 15 and 25%. The most important factors underlying the development of foot ulcers are peripheral sensory neuropathy, foot deformities related to motor neuropathy, minor foot trauma, and peripheral artery disease.

“Once the skin is ulcerated, it is susceptible to becoming infected, an urgent medical problem that can result in amputation or even death. Only two thirds of foot ulcers eventually heal, and up to 40% can reoccur and 28% may result in some form of lower extremity amputation.”

Dr Sands said the prevention of foot ulcers is very important and has been a long time priority. Each year more than one million people with diabetes lose at least a part of their leg, translating to a lower limb being lost to diabetes, every 20 seconds somewhere in the world.

“Eighty-five per cent of all amputations are preceded by an ulcer and can be prevented,” said Dr Sands. “The five year death rate following a diabetic foot ulcer or amputation is almost 50% and higher than in persons with prostate cancer and breast cancer.”

The American Diabetes Association's position statement on preventative foot care in people with diabetes suggests that all persons with diabetes should get at least one foot examination annually. The Department of Public Health, Diabetes management protocol also orders every diabetic to receive an annual comprehensive lower extremity examination.

Comments

ThisIsOurs says...

It almost sounds like a disease from the 1800's where people are being maimed en masse and have no idea how to prevent it

Weird that we do but we continue to kill ourselves

Posted 17 November 2018, 5 a.m. Suggest removal

bogart says...

YES DOC....DIS AINT NOTTING NEW ...IF YA LIVES IN DA BAHAMAS....IT ALSO CALL SUGAR......plenty Bahamians goes to PMH for dialysis treatment......Plenty Bahamians done hav leg chap off....Bahamians know dis.....IS.. dere ....like some reason....dis particular time......why yinna....bringing dis up......scientific...discourse on foot ulcers....?????

Posted 17 November 2018, 4:37 p.m. Suggest removal

sheeprunner12 says...

Bahamians abuse themselves by gorging on "bad diet food" and then expect the Government to pick up the $100K per year bill for dialysis ............... Just like those who engage in reckless lifestyles of crime, unprotected sex and speeding etc. ......... It's our lack of personal discipline.

Posted 18 November 2018, 11:56 a.m. Suggest removal

quietone says...

This is puzzling to me... many years ago, there were leading health sites on the internet which stated that diabetes was the easiest illness/disease to heal! [Even cancer was not regarded as too difficult to heal... If one has the time and search Googles or Bing to see the methods former US president Ronald Reagan and other leading US citizens used to heal cancer, they would be extremely surprises!!!].

Posted 18 November 2018, 8:15 p.m. Suggest removal

DDK says...

Is The PHA the leading cause of death in The Bahamas??

Posted 19 November 2018, 10:47 a.m. Suggest removal

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