In observance of World Diabetes Day (Nov. 14), Chief Medical Officer Dr. Merlene Fredericks echoed a call to promote the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of diabetes.

Dr. Merlene Fredericks emphasized the need to practice healthy lifestyles so as to prevent and help manage diabetes.

“We know that diabetes is a lifestyle disease. So persons need to remember that we need to try to eat healthy foods, we need to avoid foods that are high in fat, we need to avoid refined foods made from white flour that many of us like, we need to avoid sugars, alcohol, and tobacco smoke. Diabetes is a disease that can be controlled, it is not a death sentence and it does not have to be. Persons are reminded that they have to take all of the precautions, eat healthier foods, avoid sugars, and incorporate exercise to decrease the chances of developing diabetes.”

World Diabetes Day was held under the theme “The Family and Diabetes!” Dr. Fredericks said it is important that families encourage and provide support to persons who are diagnosed with diabetes.

“Say someone finds out that they are newly diagnosed with diabetes. This person would have to go through some lifestyle changes like decreasing their consumption of sugar that you use, he or she would have to try to eat healthier foods. So we are encouraging family members to support that individual. so maybe the whole family can adopt that lifestyle. That would help the person that is diagnosed in terms of maintaining and decreasing the severity of the diabetes, but it will also help the other members of family in terms of preventing them from going on to develop the condition.”

Throughout the month of November, the Ministry of Health and Wellness will host a series of activities with the aim of sensitizing and educating the public about diabetes.