The youngest Type 2 diabetic in Fiji is only 11 years old.
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Jone Usamate made this comment during World Diabetes Day launch at Nadi Civic Center today.
According to World Health Organization, one person will die from diabetes in every 8 seconds worldwide.
Usamate said in Fiji, currently 30 percent people have diabetes and this number is expected to reach 50 percent in the next 5 to 10 years if this crisis continues to be ignored.
He further said that it is estimated that there is one lower limb amputation in every 12 hours, which means two per day and approximately 730 in one year.
Usamate said these are lifestyle diseases which occur due to unhealthy behaviors like smoking, eating an unhealthy diet, drinking too much alcohol and yaqona and not engaging in physical activity.
He added that there is a need to create positive behavior change to create healthier lifestyle as 80 percent of deaths in Fiji are due to non-communicable disease.
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