…as activities commence to mark World Diabetes DayBy Sharmain GraingerPremised on the notion that knowledge is power coupled with the need to help arrest the evident impact that diabetes could have on a society, the Guyana Diabetic Association was established some four decades ago. At least this is according to First Vice President of the Association, Dr Maxine Swain, who has been a part of the entity since 2002.She revealed during an interview with this publication that the Non-Governmental Organisation has over the years been seeking to expand its reach and fulfil the mandate of offering education to diabetics,Cheap Jerseys, potential diabetics, as well as their relatives and friends. “What we have adopted is looking at the wellbeing of our diabetics and their education; once they are educated and understand their condition they are better able to control their diabetes,” said Dr Swain, who has been battling the challenges of the disease herself.She pointed to the fact that no medical person has the ability to control a diabetic, but rather, the important thing to do is to teach them self management.Standing from left are: Dr Maxine Swain, Mr Matthew Moore and Ms Stella Ogle. Sitting is Ms Claudette Thorne.“The doctors or the nurses are not with you 24/7…so who controls your diabetes? You do! But how can you do it? You have got to have the knowledge,” she stated categorically.According to Dr Swain, there is currently a need for much more to be done in Guyana to help reduce the scourge of diabetes, which she believes “has been placed on the back burner with the advent of HIV/AIDS. It is not that we stopped having chronic diseases because this is known to take more lives than HIV/AIDS,Cheap NFL Jerseys, especially since there is treatment,” she insisted. She explained that although HIV has since been classified as another chronic disease, it is certainly not killing as before, thus allowing for persons to live longer.However with the advancement of age,Cheap Soccer Jerseys, persons become prone to a number of chronic diseases,Wholesale NFL China Jerseys, which is compounded by the fact that a number of the medications used to control HIV are producing diabetics, Dr Swain disclosed.This was particularly emphasised at a conference in Jamaica a few years ago, which examined HIV and diabetes as a deadly duo, she added. The papers that were presented at that forum showed the disturbing trend that some of the drugs required to suppress HIV are instead provoking diabetes in some people.Reflecting on the past, Dr Swain mused over the fact that the disease was considered an old people affliction, but has since evolved to an extent that even teenagers are suffering from Type Two diseases. Though Type two is more prevalent – since some persons are unable to produce insulin –? it is linked to lifestyle implications which are further impacted as individuals become older. “We over-eat, we sit down all day, we do little or no exercise and the foods we eat are allowing for people to become obese.”She revealed that at the moment there are 366 million people worldwide suffering from diabetes,China Jerseys NFL, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).? Of this total, 186 million are unaware, Dr Swain informed.? This daunting state of affairs, she added, has prompted some troubling predictions. According to her, should nothing be done to remedy the situation, projected estimates made by IDF suggest that some 552 million people will be living with diabetes by 2030.It is with this in mind that the Association is preparing to observe World Diabetic Day come Wednesday (November 14) under the global theme ‘Diabetes education and prevention ’. Moreover, the Association is set to commence a week of activities to raise awareness about the need for education on the issue of diabetes.The activities will kick off with a church service today at the St Peter’s AME church situated at Lance Gibbs and New Garden Streets, Queenstown in Georgetown, which will commence at 10:00 hours. Tomorrow, the awareness drive will be spearheaded by the Association’s Region Three arm, The Diabetic Association of Region Three – a move which would facilitate the distribution of reading materials among other sensitisation activities. Activities are also expected to be undertaken on Friday in the mining town of Linden where the Association has a presence.A one-day (09:00 – 16:00 hours) exhibition at the Nurses’ Association Hall will characterise the activities on Wednesday where a number of diabetic-oriented undertakings will occur, such as the display of reading materials, blood tests, blood glucose and blood pressure testing activities.It is also expected that the