US Charity based in Barbados donates to the Barbados Diabetes Foundation
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 14:39
The Vaterstetten Foundation is the latest contributor to the Barbados Diabetes Foundation (BDF).
Andrew Thornhill, an attorney-at-law and Director of the Vaterstetten Foundation, a charitable organisation that works predominately with children and in health, told representatives of the BDF recently that the Vaterstetten Foundation has been based in Barbados for the last seven years. He said that despite the fact that their work is done primarily in Santé Fe, New Mexico, the organisation felt that being based in Barbados, they should also contribute to the Barbadian society.
Readers to our site have an interest in diabetes, its causes and the preventative measures that should be taken. We recently came across an article by Jimmy Downs on the Food Consumer website. It suggested that "High consumption of sugar-sweetened sofas, sport drinks and fruit drinks daily may be responsible for more than 100,000 cases of diabetes over the last decade, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association’s 50th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention.
The study also suggests that drinking sugar-loaded beverages may be responsible for 14,000 new cases of coronary heart disease and 50,000 additional life-years burdened by coronary heart disease last decade.
In a press release, the American Heart Association recommends that Americans limit their consumption of added sugar for most women to no more than 100 calories (25 grams) per day and for most men to 150 calories (37.5 grams) and limit their consumption of soft drinks to 450 calories less per week.
A health observer, who didn't want to be named, cautioned that the AHA's recommendation does not claim that drinking soft drink or use added sugar to such a level does not pose any risk. He suggests that AHA should not be in a position to make such a recommendation and physicians are trained to write prescriptions, but not to give advice on nutrition.
It is time to take diabetes seriously; Diabetes in Barbados is increasing: it is time to act.
Latest statistics indicate that given the size of its population, Barbados has more persons affected by Diabetes and more amputations as a result of diabetic complications than any other country in the world.
Barbados has one of the highest rates of Diabetes globally and nearly everyday someone has an amputation related to diabetes. It is for this reason that the Barbados Diabetes Foundation has renewed its efforts to put the disease high on the public’s agenda and is calling on the private sector to get on board in the fight against this remorseless disease, through exhibiting at the 3rd annual Global Village Expo.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 September 2009 04:55
After a consultation period that included IDF member associations and other key stakeholders from the diabetes world, the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization selected 'Diabetes Education and Prevention' as the theme for the 2009 to 2013 World Diabetes Day campaigns.
The campaign slogan this year is: "Understand Diabetes and Take Control".
For people with diabetes, this is a message about empowerment through education. For governments, it is a call to implement effective strategies and policies for the prevention and management of diabetes to safeguard the health of their citizens with and at risk of diabetes. For healthcare professionals, it is a call to improve knowledge so that evidence-based recommendations are put into practice. For the general public, it is a call to understand the serious impact of diabetes and know, where possible, how to avoid or delay diabetes and its complications.
The key messages of the campaign are:
- Know the diabetes risks and know the warning signs - Know how to respond to diabetes and who to turn to - Know how to manage diabetes and take control
The Barbados Diabetes Foundation this year will be hosting its third annual Diabetes Global Village to celebrate World Diabetes Day. Apart from these messages, diabetes in children will be highlighted.
There are several avenues of fund-raising and a mixture of these probably best fits the bill. Support from insurance companies banks, financial institutions, service clubs and pharmaceutical companies are all being sought. Read More...
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The Vaterstetten Foundation is the latest contributor to the Barbados Diabetes Foundation (BDF).