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One in nine people globally is living with diabetes, according to data from the International Diabetes Federation showing 589 million adults were living with the disease in 2024.
To mark World Diabetes Day on November 14, the organization Diabète Mauricie opened its doors to the public to promote early detection and healthy living under the theme "Act early against diabetes."
The event allowed participants to engage with health professionals and undergo screening tests. A kinesiologist was present to discuss how physical activity can lower blood glucose levels and assist with insulin.
“After physical activity, there can be up to 48 hours where insulin is better assimilated by the cells,”
said kinesiologist Patrick Fournier, noting that benefits are also observable over the long term.
“[Diabetes] can cause serious problems in the eyes, heart, kidneys, and nerves. If we take proper care of this disease, we can live very well with it,”
said Normand Leblanc, the interim general director of Diabète Mauricie.
Linda Girard, a member of Diabète Mauricie who was diagnosed at age 13, said that while she previously relied on urine tests, she now uses a phone application connected to a sensor to monitor her glucose levels.
“All this data is transferred to my medical clinic and they can make graphs. It allows me to see what needs to be improved in my routine,”
said Ms. Girard.
Diabète Mauricie currently has more than 600 members and offers various activities, including yoga, fitness, and aquaforme classes.
Diabetes is a chronic condition involving the continuous regulation of blood sugar levels, also known as glycemia.
“Le diabète est une maladie chronique caractérisée par un trouble continu de la régulation du taux de sucre sanguin (encore appelé glycémie),”
said Dr. Aminatou Niang.
The disease can be hereditary, though the mechanism varies by type. For type 1 diabetes, there is a genetic predisposition that is not always passed down. Type 2 diabetes, which represents more than 95% of cases in New Caledonia, is largely hereditary and influenced by diet, weight, and lifestyle.
In New Caledonia, 16,600 people are affected, making it the leading long-term illness in the territory. The financial cost reaches 10 billion francs annually, even though the disease is preventable nine times out of ten.
According to Dominique Megraoua, who is in charge of public health programs, the profile of those affected includes women at twice the rate of men, and individuals without a high school diploma at five times the rate of others.
Management of the disease faces various hurdles, including sociocultural challenges such as the use of traditional medicine, the influence of social circles, and difficulties understanding medical explanations. Risk also increases significantly after the ages of 45 to 50.
