Free eye tests offered for Diabetes Month

On Tuesday morning, several residents waited patiently in the BVI Diabetes Resource Centre in Road Town for a free screening to determine if they are at risk for an eye disease that often affects diabetics.

The screening for diabetic retinopathy was among several events being held during this Diabetes Month, and a second session will be held at the West End Community Centre starting at 9 a.m. next Wednesday.

Dr. Nick Lee, the ophthalmologist conducting the screenings, said that all diabetics should get their eyes checked even if they are not experiencing vision problems. The retinopathy, he added, is a sign of additional issues in other parts of the body.

“That’s the key thing,” he said. “If your capillaries and your sugar has affected your eyes, that relates to your kidneys — to every other part of the body. So it is a wake-up call to get Dr. [Sharlon] Lewis and the [general practitioners] to have a closer look. And also it usually motivates patients to focus more on their care.”

Stressing the importance of early intervention, he said the disease “becomes much more difficult” to treat as it progresses.

On Tuesday, 29 people were screened, and most of them “needed some advice,” according to Dr. Lee’s wife Michele, an ophthalmic technician assistant who helped out at the event.

“There were a number of surprising findings that need further follow-up related to their diabetes,” she said. “The day demonstrated for all of us that there is a considerable need for diabetic screening with high quality photographic images.”

Healthy lifestyle

Dr. Lewis, who is a general practitioner at the Wellness Center Clinics, said a healthy lifestyle helps minimise the risks associated with diabetes.

Ms. Lee also highlighted the importance of building awareness about symptoms.

“It’s not just about educating the community on how to have a healthy lifestyle, but also to look out for the symptoms of diabetes,” Ms. Lee said, adding, “It doesn’t quickly come on, you know: It’s a slow progression.”

Diabetes symptoms, Dr. Lewis said, include fatigue, frequent urination, frequent infections, infections that don’t heal, weight loss and erectile dysfunction.

First event

Diabetes Month kicked off on Friday with a ceremony where blue lights were lit at the entrance of the Governor’s House. Speakers included Governor Daniel Pruce, Health and Social Development Minister Vincent Wheatley and Dr. Lewis, the BVI Diabetes Association president.

“It’s a fantastic month of activities and fundraising to support the work of BVI Diabetes Association and also to share information with people who want to know more about diabetes or to understand how it may affect them and their loved ones,” Mr. Pruce said.

Mr. Wheatley spoke about trends in diabetes care and stressed the importance of management awareness.

“We see the numbers increasing. We see the ages decreasing. It’s very preventable,” Mr. Wheatley said. “We want more persons to be aware that the management of diabetes is so important, because what we have seen is persons who have been diagnosed, they’re diagnosed and they’re left on their own. We want to bring more awareness to them that management is so important. Early detection is so important.”

Other events

Multiple activities held this month will focus on promoting exercise, according to Dr. Lewis.

Among these events will be the Elton Georges Annual Run/Walk on Saturday at 5:30 a.m., where participants will make a loop from the Cyril B. Romney Tortola Pier Park to the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School before attending a diabetes talk and breakfast.

Additionally, Nov. 29 is the Paint the Town Blue Sneaker Competition, for which organisers are encouraging people to wear blue, wear sneakers and “park somewhere far and then walk in town.”

“One of the things I will say here culturally in the BVI as well, we don’t have a culture of movement,” Dr. Lewis said. “And that’s why something like the sneaker day is so important because it really gets people aware and trying to get people out and exercising more as a collective.”

World Diabetes Day

Next Thursday, celebrations for World Diabetes Day will be held at the pier park. The next day, there will be a cocktail party at the Governor’s House. The following week will include presentations by Dr. Lewis and nurse Noelene Levons and a bucket drive.