Four out of 10 persons don't know they have diabetes

• Author: Romardo Lyons - STAR Writer
• Published date: 16 November 2020
• Date: 16 November 2020

The Bayshore Park, Harbour View resident became aware of having the disease during her third pregnancy in 1994, which resulted in the child's death.

Later on, she lost sight in one of her eyes and had to amputate one of her feet.

"My body was just too sweet, and it was just deteriorating. If me get a one scrape, it turn out in a big sore. Doctors told me that the blood that was flowing through me was too sweet, so I shouldn't eat anything to add to that. Diabetes take weh me baby, it take weh me foot and I don't see out of one of my eyes. Diabetes do me so much things," Marzouka told THE STAR.

Diabetes, referred to as 'sugar' in Jamaica, affects the body's ability to use food. It is a chronic medical condition which can lead to blindness, kidney failure and nerve damage, and is the second-leading cause of death for Jamaicans under the age of 70.

The 2016-17 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey revealed that one in eight Jamaicans, aged 15 years and older, has diabetes. However, only four out of every 10 persons with the disease are unaware that they have it.

Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said that some 92 per cent of Jamaicans 15 years and older with the disease are on treatment, but only 27.5...