In New Caledonia, more than 15,000 people are monitored and treated for diabetes. In 95% of cases, type 2 diabetes, a form of the disease linked to family heredity but especially to overweight. The body is unable to regulate the level of glucose in the blood.
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November 14, World Diabetes Day. With more than 15,000 people followed, thousands of others who ignore each other and 840 new cases each year, the disease has been classified as a public health priority in Caledonia for almost thirty years. It ranks first in long-term illness care.
This does not mean that behaviors change enough. The World Day offers one more opportunity to grab the pilgrim’s staff, for the Health and Social Agency as well as for the association of diabetics.
This accompanies the sick and encourages the population to be screened. She had a stand at the Pont-des-Français supermarket on Monday and will do the same on Wednesday in Poindimié and Friday in Népoui.
Thursday, from 8 a.m. to noon, in Boulari opposite the dispensary, the ASS will offer an information point and free screening for diabetes, ideas foralternatives to sugary drinksor personalized advice for more daily physical activity.
It will be able to provide information on the possibilities of support and accompaniment. And in particular the opening of his therapeutic education center to patients suffering from obesity, from the end of November. In 80 % of cases, being overweight is indeed the factor responsible for type 2 diabetes. “Diabetes is fifteen thousand Caledonians who suffer from the disease. Obesity is 100,000”asks Dr. Dominique Mégraoua, the doctor in charge of the diabetes program at the Health and Social Agency. “We are going to work upstream, and prevent these people suffering from obesity from developing overload diseases. Mainly diabetes but also high blood pressure, too much cholesterol, sleep apnea, gout attacks and even cancer.”
A therapeutic center open more widely, explains Dominique Megraoua to Lizzie Carboni
Soane Simutoga is 73 years old. He has been diabetic for seventeen years. Over the years, his state of health has not improved. “I started with stamps. Now I have my insulin every morningrelate-t-il. And since there is confinement, my rate has gone up, I would have to lose the ten kilos that I took.
Testimony of Soane, diabetic, to Lizzie Carboni
A new study on the prevalence of diabetes in Caledonia is regarding to be finalized. The objective is to measure the share of the population that is affected. The results are expected within a few weeks. The last such study dates back to the early 1990s.
It should be noted that the ASS also marks this date by a digital communication campaign and a specific approach aimed at healthcare professionals.
Find on the JT the report by Karine Arroyo and Franck Vergès
