FijiFinds Diabetes Crisis Worsening: More Than a Third of Fijians Affected, Amputations Rising
Fiji is facing what health officials describe as a national diabetes emergency. New figures pegged diabetes as affecting more than one in three Fijians, while diabetes-related complications account for a large share of amputations. The acting chief executive of Diabetes Fiji, Kini Marawa, underscored the relentless nature of the disease, saying diabetes “doesn’t care if you’re tired, busy, or stressed” and that it demands constant attention around the clock. He added that thousands of people in Fiji—and millions worldwide—live with the burden with remarkable courage, balancing glucose monitoring, carb counting, and treatment while continuing to contribute as parents, students, workers, and community leaders.
What makes this crisis so challenging is that diabetes is not a single disease but a family of conditions. Type 1 diabetes involves the immune system attacking insulin-producing cells and typically requires daily insulin. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, arises when the body resists insulin or doesn’t produce enough, and it is strongly linked to lifestyle factors as well as genetics. Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and usually fades after delivery but raises the risk of Type 2 diabetes for mother and child later on. Early detection and consistent care can prevent many complications, making awareness and regular screening essential.
Diabetes Fiji has consistently called for a collective, multisector response to the crisis. The organization emphasizes that managing diabetes is not the work of one person or one profession; it is a shared responsibility among individuals living with the disease, families, healthcare professionals, employers, and community leaders. Beyond medical treatment, the fight includes promoting healthier meals, encouraging physical activity, and ensuring supportive environments at work and in communities.
Public health advocates also highlight broader harms tied to the diabetes epidemic. While efforts to address HIV have achieved notable gains through years of funding and awareness, diabetes has largely lagged in funding, data collection, and national policy. A robust national approach—complete with a diabetes registry, improved access to primary care, consistent medical supplies, and widespread education—has become a central demand from health advocates and civil society.
Several recent analyses from Fiji’s health sector illustrate the scale of the problem. For many, diabetes is responsible for the amputations, kidney failures, eye diseases, and heart conditions that burden families and strain the health system. Earlier health data have shown alarmingly high rates of amputations: studies indicate hundreds of procedures over several years, with thousands more living with disabilities linked to diabetes. The economic impact is substantial, with estimates showing annual diabetes costs in the tens to hundreds of millions of Fiji dollars, including direct medical costs and lost productivity. And while some data gaps persist, health leaders stress the urgent need to modernize how diabetes is tracked and managed nationally, so decisions can be data-driven and timely.
Diabetes Fiji points to practical steps that can drive progress: expanding screening into rural and urban communities, building peer support networks, and strengthening school and workplace outreach to promote prevention and early intervention. There is also a push for better access to essential medications, wound care, and diagnostic tools, as well as targeted education for high-risk groups. The organization has already deployed community ambassadors and health workers to lead screenings, dispel myths about treatment, and encourage timely medical care before conditions worsen to the point of amputation.
Hope remains that with stronger political will and multisector collaboration, Fiji can bend the curve on diabetes. The message drawn from HIV’s experience—consistent funding, robust community programs, and persistent public education—offers a blueprint for the road ahead: comprehensive prevention, early detection, equitable access to care, and sustained community engagement.
What this means on the ground is clear. Families are urged to be vigilant for signs of diabetes and to seek testing promptly if they notice excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight changes, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, or frequent infections. Early detection can save health and life, and it also helps reduce the long-term costs and disabilities associated with diabetes.
If policymakers act with urgency, the country can secure better outcomes for people living with diabetes and reduce its heavy toll on families and communities. Strengthening health systems, expanding education, and fostering cross-sector support will be crucial to turning the tide. The overarching message is one of resilience and collective responsibility: diabetes may be a daily challenge, but with shared effort, Fiji can build a healthier, more sustainable future.
Additional value and context for readers:
– A national diabetes registry and consistent data collection are repeatedly cited as foundational steps to inform policy, funding, and program design.
– Expanding access to primary care, wound care, and affordable medications is essential, particularly in rural areas where gaps remain acute.
– Community-driven programs, including trained ambassadors and peer support groups, have shown promise in improving screening uptake and lifestyle changes.
– The economic angle matters: diabetes imposes a substantial burden on productivity and healthcare spending, reinforcing the case for preventive investment now.
Positive takeaway: there is a growing awareness and mobilization around diabetes in Fiji, with organizers and health workers calling for a coordinated response. If all sectors commit to prevention, early detection, and patient-centered care, there is potential to reduce amputations, improve quality of life, and secure a healthier future for generations to come.
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