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Writer's pictureWestminster Medical Jamaica
4 min read

7 Things to Know about Diabetes

Here in Jamaica, 70% of all deaths are due to one of the four major NCDs: lung disease, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. While cardiovascular diseases, like hypertension, are still the most common, over the last two decades, the prevalence of diabetes, a chronic condition which impacts how the body breaks down glucose or blood sugar, increased by 41.1% among Jamaicans 15 to 74 years old. This rate is expected to continue rising.


1) Diabetes is one of the most common chronic illnesses in Jamaica.

Image showing Jamaican flag on the left against a purple background. On the right, the text reads “Did you know? The 2016-2017 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey reported that 4 in 10 Jamaican diabetics did not know they had the condition.” Westminster Medical Jamaica logo sits in the top-right corner.

“​​Diabetes is unfortunately quite prevalent in Jamaica,” says General Practitioner Dr Patrice Simmonds-Brooks. “According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the prevalence of diabetes in Jamaica was estimated to be 12.4% in 2019. This is higher than the overall prevalence in North America and the Caribbean, which is around 10.8%.” In 2022, the IDF reported that 11.9% of Jamaica's adult population had diabetes. In 2020, it was reported that 1 in 8 Jamaicans had diabetes.



2) Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in Jamaica.

Image with a yellow background. To the right are three side-view face silhouettes, one black, one green and one yellow. To the left, the text reads: “In 2017, 92.5% of diabetics ages 15 and over were in treatment. However, of that number, only 27.5% had their disease under control.” Below this, the text reads: “Source: Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey III, 2016-17”. Westminster Medical Jamaica logo sits in the bottom-right corner.

In fact, it has been a top ten leading cause of death for over 50 years and a top two leading cause of death for at least 14 years. Back in 2016, diabetes accounted for 12.7% of all deaths. In 2020, that percentage increased to 13%. In all, diabetes was the foremost cause of death, surpassing cancer, killing 2,829 persons.



3) There are three main types:


  • Type 1 Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t create enough insulin, the hormone that helps the body to turn glucose or sugar into energy. While it can develop in adults, it is typically found in childhood or adolescence. As such, it is also sometimes called “juvenile diabetes”. In 2016, they represented 5-10% of cases in Jamaica.

  • Type 2 Diabetes occurs when the body becomes “insulin resistant”. Here, the pancreas makes enough insulin, but the body doesn’t respond properly to it. As such, glucose in the blood is not adequately broken down, leading to increased blood sugar levels (prediabetes). When blood sugar levels pass a certain amount, this becomes full-blown diabetes. It is the most common type of diabetes, affecting some 90% of diabetics.

  • Gestational diabetes occurs when, during pregnancy, the body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use the insulin produced effectively, causing blood sugar levels to rise. After pregnancy, your blood sugar levels will likely decrease, but...



4) Gestational diabetes can lead to Type 2 Diabetes down the line.


While your blood sugar levels are likely to fall after delivery, the pancreatic dysfunction is likely to remain. About half of women who have gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes.


Image with a purple background, with light white swirls for texture. On the left is an image of a pregnant black woman, with brown and blonde box braids, is holding her belly, wearing a cream or tan dress with gold necklaces. To the left, the text reads: “A 2015 study published in the West Indian Medical Journal found that 32.8%of Jamaican women developed gestational diabetes.” Below this, in white text is the APA citation for the study “Analysis of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Using Novel Diagnostic Criteria.” It reads, “L Li, H Jiang, Z Chen, P Liu, Y Liu, & Z Sun. (2017, March 8). Analysis of the Prevalence and Risk Factors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Using Novel Diagnostic Criteria. West Indian Medical Journal, 66(11), 41–45. https://doi.org/10.7727/wimj.2015.017”. Westminster Medical Jamaica logo sits in the top-right corner.

5) It doesn’t always have symptoms.


“The most common symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, and blurry vision,” says Dr Simmonds-Brooks. However, “some people may not experience any symptoms at all.” For example, gestational diabetes usually has no symptoms. Instead, doctors typically test for it between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy.

With Type 2 Diabetes, symptoms may take years to develop and may also include:

  • Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet

  • Very dry skin

  • Slow-healing sores or cuts

  • Increased number of infections

For Type 1 diabetes, symptoms may take months to appear, but they may also appear in just a few weeks and be severe. Persons with Type 1 diabetes may also experience nausea, vomiting or stomach pains.


6) It can be caused by your lifestyle and habits.


Image with a forest green background, with pale white swirls for texture. To the left, a fat, dark-skinned black woman with short black hair smiles; she is wearing a grey sports bra and black exercise tights. Her stomach is exposed. One arm is on her hip, while the other holds an exercise mat. Behind her is a smiling black man of medium build, in a black exercise shirt holding a weight. To the right, the text reads: “Research shows that by losing just 7% of their body weight, overweight adults can reduce their risk of developing diabetes by almost 60%.” Westminster Medical Jamaica logo sits in the bottom-left corner.

While having a family history of Type 2 diabetes increases your risk, it is also considered to be a lifestyle disease as it can be brought on by your habits. From Dr Simmonds-Brooks: “In my view, the most common lifestyle risk factor for diabetes in Jamaica is a diet that is high in sugar and refined carbohydrates. This is in line with global trends in diabetes prevalence, which are strongly linked to unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.”



Image with deep purple background with pale purple strokes for texture. The title text reads: “The American Diabetes Association recommends that meals be portioned to include:”. Below this, is a circle divided into a half and two quarters. On the half side is a drawing of a generic leafy green vegetable and a drawing of a stalk of broccoli. It is labelled with a red arrow pointing towards the text: 50% non-starchy vegetables, like leafy greens. On the top-right quarter, there is an image of a fish. It is labelled: 25% lean protein, like fish, chicken or tofu. On the bottom-right quarter is an image of a stalk of wheat and grains of brown rice. It is labelled with a red arrow pointing towards the text: 25% healthy carbs, like brown rice and whole wheat. Below the circle is a drawing of a reusable water bottle with the caption: “Opt for water or some other low-calorie or low-sugar drink.” Westminster Medical Jamaica logo sits in the bottom-right corner.


7) Diabetes can cause other health problems.


This is especially where it is uncontrolled. “Having uncontrolled diabetes increases your risk of developing urinary tract problems,” says Dr Elon Thompson, consultant urologist. “You are more likely to get infections and experience urinary incontinence.”


Being diabetic also increases the risk of developing erectile dysfunction. For women, it increases the risk of developing yeast infections. “In diabetics, vaginal secretions contain more glucose due to higher amounts of glucose in the blood,” says Dr Robyn Khemlani, obstetrician gynaecologist. “Yeast cells are nourished by this excess glucose (as it acts as food for them), causing them to multiply and become a yeast infection.”



Dr Simmonds-Brooks: “The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends yearly screening for prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in adults ages 35 to 70 years, especially those who are overweight or obese. If you have a family history (like a parent or sibling with diabetes), your doctor may recommend screening earlier.


Finally, she notes that “if you are experiencing symptoms like frequent urination, extreme thirst, extreme hunger, you should come in for an assessment,” regardless of age.


Call to Action banner, with the caption “Want to get screened for diabetes? Make an appointment with our general practitioner for your annual Physical. Call today at 876-926-6067 or 876-754-9131! To the right is a picture of Dr Patrice Simmonds-Brooks, smiling in a red dress, labelled with her name and speciality (General Practitioner).



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