Diabetes prevention efforts in Guyana and Suriname

Health officials and advocates in Guyana and Suriname are emphasizing proactive management and lifestyle changes to combat diabetes.

In Guyana, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony has urged healthcare workers to identify and manage at-risk patients early to prevent severe complications like limb loss. The Ministry is promoting HbA1C tests for better glucose monitoring and has expanded access to retinal examinations to treat retinopathy. Additionally, researchers have explored using machine learning to predict diabetes risk from health survey data.

In Suriname, health advocates, including Liesbeth Berggraaf of the Stichting Diabetes Educatie Suriname, have noted that approximately 80 percent of type 2 diabetes cases may be prevented through regular exercise and nutrition. Concerns have been raised regarding the age of onset, with many diagnoses occurring in a person’s 40s or 50s. Suriname’s Minister of Health, Welfare, and Labor, André Misiekaba, has also encouraged citizens to engage in at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity to mitigate health risks.