On this World Diabetes Day we celebrate the efforts of the team at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer (HAS) to diagnose, treat and educate about diabetes, a dangerous health condition affecting an estimated 8.9% of Haiti’s adult population.
Given the influx of patients with diabetes at the HAS emergency department and internal medicine outpatient clinics, we know this is a serious issue in our area of the Artibonite.
In August, the HAS social service residents, in conjunction with our Medicine and Nursing Departments, organized a community diabetes screening day, accompanied by education sessions. A table filled with vegetables, fruits, and starchy foods demonstrated locally-available foods that diabetics can include in healthy diets.
By the end of this day, 221 people were tested for diabetes, identifying 2 known diabetics and 44 with high glycemic counts. All of those at risk benefited from consultations and made appointments for follow-up.
We join the International Diabetes Federation in calling for access to diabetes education to help improve the lives of the more than half a billion people living with diabetes worldwide.
