the Bermuda Diabetes Association. With results to be presented at next year's Diabetes Conference and published in medical journals worldwide, conclusions drawn from the epidemiology project are expected to serve as a blueprint for those countries unable to undertake such a study on their own. According to Debbie Jones, co-ordinator at the Diabetes Centre at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital: "This will be a blueprint for other countries -- especially the Caribbean -- who do not have the resources to undertake a study of this kind.

The Project is extremely important because we are looking at several things -- a lot of health issues are involved here, besides diabetes. Many of the same factors that lead to diabetes also lead to heart disease, for instance.'' The study will also cover aspects such as diabetes education, prevention, control and treatment with results published in major medical journals worldwide and presented at 1997's Diabetes Conference in Helsinki, Finland. The largest investigative medical survey ever held in Bermuda, the study has targeted random participants to complete questionnaires and undergo interviews and tests given by the Bermuda Diabetes Association. Emphasising that no-one is forced to take part, Mrs. Jones says it is nevertheless important for people respond to the letters that have been circulated so that, if needed, further people can be approached. For this reason,'' she said, "we are desperate for people who have not yet responded, to do so as quickly as possible.'' On the positive side, Mrs. Jones says she has been "overwhelmed'' by the help received from volunteers. "Our first batch of samples have already been sent to the laboratories at Dalhousie University in Halifax for analysis, and Air Canada has very kindly undertaken to transport these, free of charge. Mrs.

Ronnie DeSilva and Mr. Jack Arnold have set this up and actually take it in turns to hand-carry the sample to the plane. Then, at the other end, volunteers from Dalhousie are picking up the samples to rush them back to the labs.'' The potential problem of storing the samples was solved through the generosity of the Bermuda Biological Station. "They have to be stored in dry ice and it was found that the only `Minus 70' freezer where dry ice can be kept in its frozen state is at the Bermuda Biological Station, and they have very kindly given us space there. We also have ice packs, kept in the Minus 70 freezer, which they are providing free of charge. It was Dr. Hank Rosenthal's idea to experiment with storing the ice packs --he did that, and found it worked, so we are very grateful to him for all of his help. I don't think we could have managed without him!'' Glucoses are being tested in Bermuda and Mrs. Jones says that the lab staff at KEMH are all involved. "They are coming in on Saturdays to help out, so this is a wonderful team effort on the part of the community to make this project work. Now, all we need is for people to reply to the letters we sent out!'' Although the most virulent form of diabetes is (Type 1), which renders people insulin-dependent, the most common form of diabetes is Type 2 which can be linked to today's increasingly affluent life-style, poor diet and lack of exercise. In many cases -- and this is where the Epidemiology Project will be of vital importance -- people are unaware that they have the disease, added Mrs. Jones. Even those who do know, often fail to realise its potential seriousness. Among the facts about diabetes: It more than doubles the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

It is a leading cause of kidney disease.

It accounts for more than half of all leg amputations.

It often leads to blindness in middle-age.

It is a major cause of impotence in men of all ages.

However, with proper education, 50-80 percent of diabetic complications are preventable, she stressed.

"It is very important that we find out just how many people have the disease here. We know that the incidence is high, and that many people are completely unaware that they have diabetes. These tests will also indicate how many people are suffering from hypertension, also an area that needs to be addressed.

"People have to be educated about the dangers of high blood pressure and how it can be improved -- not just with medication -- but by exercise and a sensible diet. If we have the information we need, we can develop strategies for prevention.'' Costs of the Epidemiology Project are being partly funded by Corange Ltd., which is providing much of the equipment used in the survey and by the Bermuda Diabetes Association.

BIOLOGICAL STATION HELPS DIABETICS -- Hank Trapido Ronsenthal of the Bermuda Biological Station for Research and Debbie Jones of the Diabetes Centre, store samples from the Bermuda Diabetes Association's Epidemiology Project in the Island's only `Minus 70' freezer, located at the St. George's research facility, before it is airlifted to Halifax, Canada via Air Canada, for analysis. Results from the survey should be mailed to participants in about six weeks.

HELPING FIGHT DIABETES -- Workers on the Epidemiology Project now being jointly conducted by the Bermuda Diabetes Association and the Ministry of Health and Social Services with the support of health insurance companies and many other bodies including Rotary International, Lions International, Corange Ltd. and King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (Diabetes Centre and Dietitians).

Shown (from left) Cathy Schoenberger, Debbie Jones, Pat Lang, Richard Mickiewicz, Morag Smith and Lainie Andrew-Koolkin. The results will benefit Bermuda and serve as a blueprint for research in a host of other countries.

I'M HELPING STOP THE EPIDEMIC -- Lab worker at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital Richard Mickiewicz prepares the blood samples taken from participants in the Diabetes Association's epidemiology study before they are sent on to the Bermuda Biological Station for Research and stored in the Island's only `Minus 70' freezer before they are flown to Canada for analysis of sugar, fat and cholesterol levels. The samples will indicate whether or not a person has Type I or Type II Diabetes or is at risk of developing the disease and participants in the study should be notified of their results in about six weeks.

HEALTH HTH