The epidemiology of diabetes mellitus in Jamaica and the Caribbean: a historical review

Epidemiological studies on diabetes mellitus (DM) have been conducted in the Caribbean for more than four decades. In Jamaica, the estimated prevalence of DM among adults ranged from 1.3% in 1960 to 17.9% in 1995. Part of the variation in estimates has been due to the differing age groups that have been studied. The 2007-8 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey (JHLS-2) reported prevalence estimates of 7.9% for diabetes mellitus and 2.8% for impaired fasting glucose in persons 15-74 years old. Across the Caribbean, the overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus is estimated at about 9%. In addition to the high burden of prevalent diabetes, there is also a high burden of complications. In Barbados, the incidence of…