An increasing number of Tonga's youth are found to have diabetes, a disease that is incurable, and many of them have contracted diabetes because they eat the wrong foods.

A Tonga Youth Diabetes Study Report 2013, released last week recommends a national screening of youths for the disease along with a national awareness campaign.

It is known that six percent of Tonga's youth have diabetes and many more youth have yet to be tested, according to the report launched by HM King Tupou VI on May 16 in Nuku'alofa. The report showed that out of 20 percent of youths that have been tested for the disease, six percent said they have it, while 87 per cent were willing to be tested.

King Tupou VI said diabetes cannot be cured and said the negative impacts on young people's quality of life requires urgent attention in Tonga.

The study was commissioned by a King's Coronation Charity Trust founded by the late King George Tupou V and was carried out by the University of the South Pacific in Tonga, led by Director Dr 'Ana Koloto.

The report also recommends the implementation of diverse programs to promote physical activity and healthier eating habits.

National survey

A national survey was held on randomly selected 1501 participants between 14-25 years old, with a qualitative fono of 214 youths and case studies of six people with Type 2 diabetes.

"The study showed that actual behaviour of youths who have the disease are a cause of concern. While good family support is available for youths with diabetes, their inability to keep appointments with the Diabetes Clinic, not taking their medications and not eating the right type of food are features of their behaviour which do not help the management of their diabetes," the report stated.

At the same time an alarming 64 percent of youths think that diabetes can be cured, and only three percent know that the pancreas is the body organ which if it does not function well can cause a person to have diabetes.

Knowledge

The youths in Tonga are surrounded by people who have diabetes, with 87 percent knowing a church member with the disease, 34 percent live with a family member, 39 percent have extended family member who have it, while a lesser 21 percent have close friends who have the disease.

Given that young people are surrounded by people with diabetes it is not surprising to find that the majority thought the prevalence of diabetes had increased in the three years before the data collection, stated the report.

"The youth are well aware of the factors that would lead to a person having diabetes including over-consumption of food high in sugar and fat (89%), obesity (72%) and lack of physical activities. The fono results showed a view that some Tongans do not take their health and well being seriously and that diabetes is seen as a disease of some families and people get it when they get older."

In general young people have good attitudes towards people with diabetes, they want to help and are willing to learn about the disease and how to support those who suffer from it. While 52 percent said there was little information on the disease and there was a need for more, 86 percent supported that school could be targeted for a nation-wide awareness campaign since 46 percent of the youth population are in high schools.

Recommendations

The report's key recommendations for the Ministry of Health is to implement a national screening of youth for diabetes and hold training workshops for teachers, students and workplaces on how to care for those affected with the disease in class and at work.

Diabetes Clinics might hold programs of daily physical activity and healthier eating habits in diabetic youth and set up support groups for diabetic youth, parents and caregivers of diabetics.

Clinics are also encouraged to set up contact between diabetics in between clinic appointments and develop an information pack on care and support for diabetic youth.

The report recommended for the Trust to target youth and implement a comprehensive community-based program to raise the youths awareness of the disease and its consequences. These programs to be delivered by youth affected with the disease, working together with health professionals and other community leaders.

A repeat of this study is to be held in five years to assess the effectiveness of the work done.