Younger Jamaicans diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at concerning rates

A growing number of Jamaicans are being diagnosed with diabetes, raising concerns among health professionals. Consultant endocrinologist Dr Karen Phillips has reported a sharp rise in cases, linking the trend to increasing obesity rates.

"Over the past 18 years, there has been a 42 per cent increase in the prevalence of diabetes locally. This can be attributed to the alarming rates of obesity. One in two Jamaicans are obese," Dr Phillips revealed to Loop Lifestyle in a sitdown at her co-partnered practice in St Andrew last week.

The 40-plus demographic is the most identified Jamaican group with the medical condition which develops when the pancreas fails to produce adequate insulin, leading to an unnatural spike in the body's blood sugar.

"The majority of my patients are over 40 years old, both in public and private practice, but I have seen a very concerning increase in young type 2 diabetics in recent times, which is largely attributable to the increased rates of obesity in younger persons," disclosed the health specialist, who is one of the island's leading authorites on diabetes.

With the explosion of diabetic drugs such as Wegovy but more so Ozempic, which have fuelled public interest in their weight loss benefits with famous faces such as media titan Oprah Winfrey, basketball legend Charles Barkley, and rapper Fat Joe copping to being users, Dr Phillips reflected on the phenomenon.

"Ozempic has made its way into popular culture especially because of its use by celebrities and several of my private Jamaican patients enquire about it. Ozempic is not formally carried locally but can be imported by persons licensed to do so," she explained to Loop against the backdrop of the current commemoration as Diabetes Awareness Month.

The United States' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave approval for Ozempic usage in 2017 for adults with type 2 diabetes. "It is a safe drug but like other medications it has side

effects and there are requirements for safe use," Phillips noted, adding that common side effects of Ozempic include nausea, vomiting, constipation, muscle loss, and low

blood sugar. Besides Ozempic, the endocrinologist who has worked in the local medical fraternity for over two decades, highlighted other pharmaceuticals that can be administered in patient care. 

"Semaglutide belongs to the class of diabetic drugs called GLP 1 agonists. There are several other classes of diabetes medications such as biguanides, sulphonylureas, DPP 1V inhibitors, SGLT 2 Inhibitors, Thiazolidinediones, Alpha glucosidase inhibitors and Insulin which are commonly used. The basis of diabetes management is lifestyle management which should include a balanced diet and frequent exercise, and medications are usually prescribed at diagnosis," she noted.

The Mayo Clinic recommends to prevent and manage diabetes, a proposed diet should include vegetables, fruits, whole grains and lean sources of protein. Also, it is advised to opt for water instead of sweetened beverages and limit unhealthy trans fats and heavily processed foods.  Fried foods and candy consumption are also discouraged. 

Dr Phillips underscored that while diabetes management is a field with a lot of active research, "I would say new medications targeting different aspects of diabetes physiology hold a lot of promise for changing the lives of diabetics."

She advised that whether persons with long-term afflictions or newly diagnosed, there are two cardinal truths they should remain cognisant of.

"Diabetes is a lifelong disease and secondly, compliance with prescribed medication is crucial to management outcomes," the doctor summarised.

By Omar Tomlinson