Chronic non-communicable diseases are a threat to the economy and effective health delivery services, not only in Dominica, but throughout the Caribbean.
Health Minister Julius Timothy made those remarks at the third annual Caribbean Wellness Day Ceremony at the Windsor Park Stadium Friday morning.
Timothy said government has nonetheless been investing in measures to deal with the diseases.
“These diseases, including diabetes, hypertension and cancer, not only have considerable impact to individuals and families in Dominica but also major implications to the health delivery services and the economic standing of our nation,” Minister Timothy said.
The third annual Caribbean Wellness Day was officially observed on Saturday under the theme ‘Love that Body; Make it Last’. The day’s observance was one of the mandates of CARICOM Heads of Government coming out of their landmark Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), held in Trinidad, in 2007. It is to be observed on the second Saturday of September each year.
The health minister said Dominica’s population trend indicates an increase in the number of older persons and “non-communicable diseases increases with age, hence the likelihood of increased burden on the health system and social services to address these issues”.
The primary aim of Caribbean Wellness Day is to promote healthy lifestyles through physical activity. And while this year emphasis was placed on promoting healthy lifestyles through physical activities, focus was also given to tobacco-free environments, regular exercise, salt consumption reduction, alcohol avoidance and regular blood pressure checks.
@Gary:
I am through with it, you do understand what I am talking about, so just shut-up, you have no medical training, so what’s the point.
I majored in Health science, past the required test to enter medical school after finishing premed, that’s where I got my knowledge from.
The bull you are talking do not fade me!
I am not an idiot as you chose to believe.
If you are so smart, pick a bloody subject any subject in the field of Health Science, give it best your best shot, and see if I can understand what you write.
That’s the difference between the nonsense you are writing here and what I have written:
you fool are a fool
@Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque:
Mr Telemaque I’m not going to use this forum to engage in any augments with you, since it is futile. However, I will comment when necessary. I will tell you, have you noticed the more elaborate your means of communication, the less you communicate. and that is your problem. I will also point out to you ego is the biggest enemy of humans, the fallacy whereby a goose thinks he’s a swan. Mr Telemaque you must be able to accept criticism and not be quick and hasty to reply, thinking you’re are immune to criticism.
When I made the reference to allopathic medicine with an Endocrinologist, I was thinking in terms of his approach to the type of medicine used for treatment, i guess you did not understand. After reading your comments as to what you think is the cause of diabetes, it tells me how little you know and how much you need to know, by the way I’m not proclaiming to be an expert in medicine To the young woman name Prissy, i would advise you to go to the library read as much as you can about the subject ask you Doctor , use the internet also there is lots of information available, the more information you have it will help you make a better choice, health is serious matter, you cannot leave it in the hands of people who think they are experts.
Prissy, I had to go out for dinner, and so I cut short the response, I wanted to give to you, in respect to where you ask me to elaborate somewhat on hemoglobin A1c, thus breaking it down.
To be honest with you the subject is so vast, to go into total detail, I would have to practically monopolized several pages on DNO, to effectively present it the way I’d like to.
And so I shall limit what I am about to say hopefully I’ll make it simple enough where even those who are not into medicine, or had a single day study in Human Anatomy and Physiology will understand the information they read.
So, let’s take it from her:
Glycosylated h., hemoglobin A1c.
h. A1c hemoglobin A with a glucose moiety attached to the amino terminal valine of the beta chain.
This type of hemoglobin is made at a slow constant rate during the 120-day life span of the erythrocyte. It accounts for 3 to 6 per cent of the total hemoglobin in a normal person, and up to 12 per cent in persons with diabetes mellitus.
Increased levels of hemoglobin A1c correlates with glucose intolerance in diabetics; with good diabetic control the hemoglobin A1c level returns to normal range.
Okay; let me explain the latter; assuming that we find that our A1c is about 7.1 (H) or say 7. 4 (H), we know that it is out of control. We may monitor our glucose on fasting, and find it to be about 130 mg, and would not consider that critical, or significant.
Nonetheless, if out hemoglobin A1c is at 7%, that is equivalent to, or having approximately 200 plus mg of glucose in our system, so that is why one need to have their A1c monitored once every three months, and understand, that if they see a low number on the glucose monitor, that does not mean that their diabetes is under control.
To a diabetic, good control of glucose in the blood is not based totally on the number read on the glucose monitor, it is essentially more important to keep the hemoglobin A1c under control.
Hence, periodic A1c assays can be helpful in evaluating effective control of diabetes mellitus.
And Garry, though the idea of prevention of Diabetes may seem good, tell me how are you going to prevent a disease that is hereditary, if a damage gene is past on to you; it is in the deoxyribonucleic acid past on to you by one of your parent, tell me how can you escape it when you are actually born with the disease?
I mean you can maintain a balance diet, you can exercise, if it is your faith for it to appear in your teen years, or younger, you are term type 1, if hits you in your thirty’s of forty’s you are considered type ll; however, as long as it is hereditary, its inevitable only God himself can make you evade its wrath.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
To Fransisco Etienne:
Thank you for the information that you pass on to us about medical and health, including some other social issues. I really believe that you mean well, especially for the benefit of the people of Dominica. It is just unfortunate that some people do not see it that way.
And I agree with you, if you meant to say: A prophet is without honor in his country, quoting from Jesus’ sayings. But I just wonder how stupid can a person be to think that it will affect me if they refuse to accept a good advice, which I am offering to them. It did not affect Jesus either.
But we should be concerned about the many people in Dominica who suffer from diabetes, for example, but do not care to treat it, because of their ignorance about the disease. My 67 year old uncle is one of them.
@prissy:
Prissy, the normal value, or range of a normal person, one not having diabetes, should be between 4.8 – 5.9 %
Hb A1c is best uesd to monitor blood sugar control in patients with diabetes, ideal values are below 7.0 % values >8.0 % ( that is values greater than 8.0%) suggest the need to improve the blood sugar control treatment plan.
However, at 7, that would be considered abnormal!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
” I do not know what you mean by superb confident medical treatment, I assuming you’re referring to allopathic medicine since you made mention of an Endocrinologists.”(Gary).
Gary, I was getting ready to deal with you in a different way, however, after reading your comments a second time, I decided to calm my nerve, and approach you differently, since I discovered that you have absolutely no concept of what I conveyed in what you read.
I do not believe in taking people to task, by plugging bits of insults in response to what the person wrote, when in fact our understanding of what the person stated is minimal, and limited.
So, be informed that I am not associating what you term allopathic medicine, with endocrinology, and the functions of a medical doctor who is a specialist in that field. Without explanation I wish to assure you that the medical skills of an endocrinologists is greater and far surpasses that of an ordinary medical doctor, or what we term ” a general practitioner.”
Here is the definition of the word superb: and I used it in the literal sense of the word, meaning ” the highest degree by grandeur, excellence, brilliance, or competence above all.
Now that we got that out of the way, let us deal with the rest.
I see you made mention of the word “epidemic” in this regard I need to let you know that what constitutes diabetes is an inherited damage gene, and that is why there is no cure for the disease, although it can be treated effectively.
An damage gene in a human cannot be repaired, at least such technology has yet to be discovered!
How can you associate a none-communicable disease with something pandemic, or epidemic in the true sense of the word?
I am not trying to educate you or anyone else, however, discovering that you have very little knowledge of what I am talking about, I may inform you that hypotension, hypertension, as well as hypoglycemia, and hyperglycemia are generally hereditary diseases, meaning such diseases usually runs in families, from generation to generation, though usually skipping some generations, however, surfacing within others.
Nonetheless, there is the probability that someone who did not inherit the disease from one parent or the other, can develop diabetes after suffering some form of traumatic event.
That is a known fact!
I would like to introduce you to another form of diabetes which some doctors in Dominica probably have never herd of since their concentration and focus is on type l, and type ll, diabetes only, but; do they know how to treat the other type which only affects the brain?
Here is a clue, the patient goes about their business, until it is time to void, the person commences urinating, and that process continues for a long time, it would appear as if the person cannot stop urinating!
I will stop here, however, be advised, unless you have had some medical training, don’t tackle or challenge me on any medical subject, as I stated if you do not understand it; leave it alone.
Regarding the person who suggest that I return and help; understand that a profit is without honor in his country; I would not venture into the that and my reasons are as follows:
I have taken glucose monitors, and test strips to people in Dominica, give it to them, and suggest they did not even have to say thanks to me, I suggest that when they run out, or about a month prior to them running of the strips, all they have to do is contact me, and I would send them a supply, only one person out of all called me once and requested that I send them some test strips.
One of the feedback I got was that I gave people monitors which did not work!
The problem is that they will not say they do not know how to follow the instructions on how to operate the monitor, changing the tests strips code, and so on, they prefer to destroy the credibility of the one who donate monitors.
I think I would be wasting my time.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
@Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque:
The comment made by the Hon Minister Julius Timothy is indeed a fact, regarding non-communicable diseases and Dominica is not the only country facing such problem. Mr Telemague sometimes you seem to amuse me. The things you have suggested such as superb, and confident medical treatment, by the way I do not know what you mean by superb confident medical treatment, I assuming you’re referring to allopathic medicine since you made mention of an Endocrinologists. Well if all these things are in place in the US why is there still an increase in such diseases and some would say an epidemic. That is where I differ from you., a preventive approach with Homeopathic medicine.
We should be talking about ways of preventing such diseases, not managing them with drugs which are expensive and sometimes deadly. Finally you must remember an expert is one who knows more and more about less an less. I say this because you always think you’re an expert and authoritative on everything that is what amuses me.
Mr Telemaque since you are so informed on these particluar diseases and their complications, would you consider volunteering your services to the various communities in Da sharing your knowledge on prevention? For those who have already been inflicted with those dieases, showing them how to live a longer life through diet and exercise. Though lots of young people are diagnosed every year with diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer etc. , very few of them blog on this site. Which means, they may not be aware of the symptoms. That goes also for the older folks.
So that’s where you come in. Be a doer not a talker. By the way, what is the normal A1C level?
Would you please break it down for the folks who does’nt know the meaning of A1C.
“These diseases, including diabetes, hypertension and cancer, not only have considerable impact to individuals and families in Dominica but also major implications to the health delivery services and the economic standing of our nation,” Minister Timothy said.” (Julius Timothy)
Julius, interestingly, every once in a while you make statements regarding diseases plaguing the health of our people, and the impact these diseases has on society, and the economy.
Mentioning Trinidad, and all that in you comment is meaningless, since all of the diseases you mentioned, are not unique to Dominica, and the rest of the Caribbean only; hence, they plague people internationally.
In the event this will give you some bit of comfort, perhaps I should inform you that yours truly, Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque deals with chronic hyperglycemia every single day of my life, dating back to 1990 when I was first diagnosed.
No need to inform you that I maintain a very happy, and productive life under the circumstances!
So, my question to you in spite of your talk, what is your resolve to the situation as it relates specifically to Dominica?
In Dominica’s case, I suggest good, superb, and confident medical treatment of the patients should be paramount. Everyone who claims to be a medical doctor is not totally competent to treat hyperglycemia, or hypoglycemia (diabetes).
That is why so many people in Dominica die from complication of the disease.
How many endocrinologists do we have operating in Dominica?
To my knowledge, not a single one!
You see the services of an endocrinologist who’s speciality is treating such disease as you talk about proves more effective than that of a simple general practitioner, ordinary medical doctor.
I can go into detail in describing their different functions, nonetheless, knowing that you will not have a clue of what I am saying since you do not have a medical background, I suggest you consult with your Chief Medical officer, who may brief on the matter.
It is one thing to say to a person, you have diabetes, and give them a few pills and send them home, that’s not good enough. Treating people with diabetes has to be regimental, that person suffering from hypoglycemia, or hyperglycemia, should be monitored by their treating physician at least once per month.
A CBC should be considered every three months, it is imperative that the patients Hemoglobin A1c is in control. it is important that the doctor monitor the patient’s Basic Metabolic [7] [NA, K, CL, CO2, Glucose, BUN, CREAT].
In addition to that the doctor should monitor the patients Lipid Panel [T.CHOL, TRI, HDL, LDL] to the lay person reading this if you do not understand what is in the paragraphs above do not worry about it, take it for granted, however, a nurse, or doctor, or people who have some sort of medical training understands what t’s all about.
Julius, I turn my attention to hypertension, and Hypotension, this is one subject I will not venture into deeply here, since I am preparing something on the subject which I will disseminate in another forum, since I know DNO will not allow it on their site.
Now I would like to ask you, what sort of treatment are we are providing to people in our country to those suffering from Cancer?
How effective is the treatment they receive?
Do we have a cancer unit set up in Dominica to deal with Cancer, and Cancer only, how many specialists do you have employed in such a field of medicine in Dominica, it is one thing for you to sit and make statements which I believe you make to get your face in the news, and on the Internet, I would only hope after your fifteen minuets of fame, you sit and try to find a resolve to the medical neglect people encounter on a daily basics in Dominica.
I know a Dominican doctor from the village of Point Mitchell, a Cancer Specialist now retired in Arizona if you would like him to render some advise, and services to our country, let me know, and I will patch you through to him.
In conclusion, I must ask you why are Test Strips used in the monitoring of individual glucose so expensive in Dominica. Normally, someone who suffers from diabetes, should monitor the level of their glucose three times per day or before each meal, under such circumstances, I mean as expensive as strips are in Dominica, the ordinary poor person cannot afford to monitor their glucose once per day never mind three times.
What are you going to do about such people and their circumstances Mr. Minister?
Note: Normal glucose should range between 80 and 120 mg, plus or minus 5mg, so, that means it should not drop below 75mg and should not exceed 125mg.
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque