Sugary drinks, pastries and fast food may be firmly entrenched in the national diet. But with more than one in 10 of the country’s population now suffering from diabetes, local medics say overindulgence is helping fuel a health crisis. “Type one diabetes is a genetic condition that shows up early in life, whereas type two is mainly lifestyle-related and develops over time,” explains consultant cardiologist Dr Georgette Meade.
Did you know that the risk of heart disease – the world’s number one killer – starts in the womb?
The country’s Heart and Stroke Foundation is appealing to mothers-to-be to pay special attention to protecting their babies’ health, both at birth and in the future. Foundation president and consultant cardiologist Dr Georgette Meade says, unlike adults who can help ward off heart disease through diet and exercise, most cases in children are congenital.
The good news is, taking early steps such as avoiding alcohol, cigarettes and drugs in the preconception period and during pregnancy has a major role to play.
The country’s Heart and Stroke Foundation is appealing to mothers-to-be to pay special attention to protecting their babies’ health, both at birth and in the future. Foundation president and consultant cardiologist Dr Georgette Meade says, unlike adults who can help ward off heart disease through diet and exercise, most cases in children are congenital.
The good news is, taking early steps such as avoiding alcohol, cigarettes and drugs in the preconception period and during pregnancy has a major role to play.