The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

FEEDBACK was positive and encouraging at the official launch ACE Diabetes last week, according to founders of the nonprofit organisation. Awareness, Compassion and Education (ACE) Diabetes was established over the summer to address the overwhelming need in the Bahamas for diabetes awareness, and the challenge of managing diabetes on a daily basis. According to Dr Graham Cates, president of ACE Diabetes, the organisation’s ultimate goal is to reduce the burden of diabetes on individuals, families, communities and health-care systems.

Quoting an unknown source, Dr Cates explained the meaning of awareness: “Awareness is not just noticing what is going on around you, but what is going on within you as well.”

“Raising awareness in the Bahamas of this ever-growing disease is one of the main efforts behind the mission of ACE. In 2005 the Communicable

Disease Prevalence Study, conducted by the Bahamian Ministry of Health, showed that 6.7 per cent (23,000) of the population had pre-diabetes and 9.2

per cent (32,000) had diabetes. The public must be made aware of the need to recognise diabetes early and how to prevent diabetes and the serious health consequences of diabetes,” said Dr Cates.

Speaking to the words “compassion and education” in the organisation’s name, Dr Cates said: “ACE Diabetes informs, inspires, and shows compassion

to people who are impacted by diabetes; in the process it positivity affects lives and facilitates an improved quality of life. He said all people with diabetes and those at risk of diabetes, no matter where they live, have the right to learn about diabetes: how it can be prevented; how it can be managed effectively and how to access educational and clinical resources.”

“ACE Diabetes is dedicated to providing a high standard of diabetes self-management education. ACE believes diabetes self-management education is a critically important, fundamental and integral component of diabetes prevention and care and should be available and accessible to everyone,” he said.

He said the organisation’s goals are to educate schools, nurses and teachers about the fact of caring for children with diabetes, provide opportunities for children with diabetes and providing children with diabetes Insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors.

So far, Dr Cates said ACE Diabetes has provided a free monthly support group called “Diabetes Directions”. The support group often meets the first Monday of each month at New Providence Community Centre, for a time of socialising, dining and education. The support group is open to anyone interested in learning more about diabetes.

ACE Diabetes and the Diabetic Research Institute (DRI) recently joined forces to raise awareness about diabetes and work with children affected by the disease. They teamed up to bring artists and children together at the Popopstudios to assist in painting a mural that will be installed Downtown.