Diabetes Walk needs to attract right people, Testing today

Providenciales, TCI, November 14, 2016 – Diabetes is greatly impacting the quality of life for islanders and too many do not even know it, too many are not actively working to be aware or to be healthier.

Once the scores of runners and walkers were back to the start point of the Wrightfully Fit Charity Walk & Run yesterday evening, we got to speak to some of the experts on site.  John Wright, fitness man and founder of the eight year old event which supports the Diabetes Association said the fundraiser is not a money making venture for him, it is a fitness awareness function for islanders to live healthier, happier lives – he said not enough of those people are coming out.

“There’s a full moon, the stars are out, people are out supporting this, the only people who aren’t here, are the people who should be here, people who have diabetes,
people who have type 2 diabetes, childhood obesity, people who have kids who are overweight, they’re not here.  There’s a big expat community here, there’s a big tourist community here participating, the people who should be here, are not here.” – John Wright

President of the TCI Diabetes Association, Elaine Clare shared a similar perspective and said that is why her team will be at all Grace Bay Pharmacies, Flamingo Pharmacy, Family Care Pharmacy and at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center giving free glucose testing, handing out monitors and providing pamphlets, because people are unaware.   “Very very prevalent, and it is heartbreaking, to know the numbers that we have here.  And a lot of people are walking around with high blood sugars, and they don’t know that they have high blood sugars and that they are diabetics.”

Dr. Sam Slattery said it boils down to diet and exercise and the biggest enemy of our islands, of our world – SUGAR.  “Sugar snuck into our diet all over the world and it’s not unique to the Turks and Caicos.  Here’s what I tell all my patients, firstly don’t give your children sugar.  You want to look at all the processed foods that you’re eating because it’s almost guaranteed to have high fructose corn syrup in it, and I’ll be happy to say it’s a poisonous substance, definitely leads to diabetes.”

Today is World Diabetes Day, free testing at the sites starts at 10am; you should go so that you know.