This news came yesterday from Minister of Health Dr David Estwick, who also announced a new plan for the implementation of a surveillance system in polyclinics to report on diabetes and other chronic non-communicable diseases in the same way dengue was reported to that ministry on a routine basis.

Estwick was speaking at the annual general meeting of the Diabetes Association of Barbados at the Ursuline Convent School.

He said while diabetes affected mainly the adult population in Barbados, in recent times there had been a worrying trend of Type 2 diabetes showing up in children and adolescents.

Quoting from the Adolescent Health And Fitness Survey which was conducted in Barbados by the Chronic Disease Research Centre in 2000, he pointed out that 462 children between ten and 18 years old were surveyed and the study found that over 60 per cent consumed chocolates, candy, sweet bread and other sweet pastries at least once a week; while 65.3 per cent had one or two soft drinks daily.

The study, he said, also found that only 34 per cent used fruit every day and 31 per cent consumed vegetables daily.

"This picture demonstrates the need for early intervention in order to break the cycle and to delay for as long as possible the onset of chronic non-communicable diseases."

Eswick said the Health Promotion Unit and the National Nutrition Centre were developing guidelines and they would be working with the Ministry of Education on the implementation.

"The National Nutrition Centre will, during this financial year, disseminate food-based dietary guidelines which would improve our understanding of several nutrition related concepts, such as portion sizes, food groups and daily nutrition requirements," he said.

He also said education of the family was the most important aspect of any programme aimed at reducing the risk factors. (MB)