Barbados Urges Diabetes Testing Amid Concerns of Undiagnosed Cases

With an estimated 60 000 diabetes cases in Barbados and many more potentially undiagnosed, Barbadians are being urged to find out their status so they can get treatment for the chronic disease.

General Manager of the Maria Holder Diabetes Centre for the Caribbean, Marsha White made the appeal on Wednesday as the Rotary Club of Barbados presented a cheque for over $22 000 to the Maria Holder Barbados Diabetes Foundation.

She noted the wide-ranging impact of not treating the condition, noting that diabetes does not only impact those diagnosed but their families as well, disrupts the workforce and creates financial and emotional burdens.

“It’s not just about managing diabetes; it’s about the complications that arise if it goes untreated,” White said. “Diabetes can handicap you, take you out of the workforce, and have a financial impact on families. It’s devastating mentally and emotionally. Anyone over 35 in Barbados should be concerned, and we urge people to come to the centre or see their doctor to get tested.”

White also addressed the importance of regular screenings and comprehensive health checks for those already diagnosed with diabetes.

“Anyone living with diabetes should be having annual screenings for vascular health, eye care, and foot health. It’s always easier to treat an issue when it’s caught early. Here, we provide the full suite of services with specialist doctors, nurses, and a registered dietitian. Managing diabetes can start with your next meal, and the dietitian is an integral part of that journey.”

The donation from the Rotary Club, presented at the Maria Holder Diabetes Centre for the Caribbean, will fund the purchase of a new autoclave – equipment that allows the centre to maintain safe and sterile conditions for the thousands of Barbadians it serves each year.

“An autoclave is a piece of equipment that sterilises our tools used in the treatment and management of our patients who are living with diabetes,” explained White. “Without proper sterilisation, as you can imagine, our equipment will be contaminated, and we would risk contaminating one patient to the next. That’s something a medical facility could never accept.”

She emphasised the importance of the Rotary’s donation, noting that the centre’s existing autoclave, an older model, needed to be replaced.

“We are so grateful that the Rotary stepped forward to cover the entire cost of a new autoclave. Having something brand new like this, we know it’s going to be a lot more efficient, even in terms of energy consumption,” White added.

“We are a unique facility in the Caribbean, and we strive to maintain the highest standards of care and to be an example not just in Barbados but across the region. This donation from Rotary allows us to continue providing safe, high-quality care.”

The Rotary Club of Barbados’ Past President Ermine Darroux-Francis reflected on the club’s longstanding commitment to addressing health issues, particularly non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes.

“Our club decided we had to play a part in the NCD crisis,” she said. “We recognised that Barbados has a high rate of NCDs, and the data shared with us by health officials was so alarming that we felt compelled to act.”

The Maria Holder Diabetes Centre for the Caribbean provides a range of services, including diabetes screening, foot and eye care, wound management, and education to empower patients to live full lives with the disease.

White said: “We need to change behaviours around eating, stress management, and sleeping patterns. At the Maria Holder Diabetes Centre, we don’t just treat diabetes; we treat the whole person because managing diabetes holistically is the only way to prevent severe complications.”