Education

The people of the Caribbean region are facing a serious threat to health which will potentially overwhelm healthcare systems in the small and relatively poor countries of the region. It is estimated that by the year 2010, the number of people with diabetes in the Caribbean will reach 20 million. Diabetes prevalence in the area is projected to increase to approximately 25% of the adult population.

As the number of people with diabetes increases worldwide, there will be an increasing need for diabetes education. New approaches are necessary to ensure the cost-effective provision of this education for each person with diabetes. Diabetes education will be offered by both health-care professionals and non-professionals. New programmes will be developed and non-medical educators will receive training in order to deliver diabetes education.