Today is World Diabetes Day and according to the Pan American Health Organization, Trinidad and Tobago, is facing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and chronic lung disease.
These account for over 62% of deaths, each year, with three quarters occurring in people under the age of 70.
It’s revealed Diabetes is the second leading cause of death in Trinidad and Tobago.
The disease affects an estimated 150,000 people in Trinidad and Tobago and the numbers are growing, with 1,000 new cases every year.
The slogan for this year’s World Diabetes Day campaign is “Know your risk, Know your response”.