DIABETES is no longer a disease affecting only older people, with new national data showing a growing number of young Fijians living with the condition, according to findings from the Fiji 2025 STEPS Survey.
Head of Wellness for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services Dr Devina Nand said the survey revealed that 4.7 per cent of people aged 18 to 29 were living with diabetes, signalling a worrying shift in the age profile of the disease.
“Decades ago, diabetes was considered a disease of the elderly, that is no longer the case.” Dr Nand said.
Overall, the survey found that 16.5 per cent of Fiji’s population has diabetes, a significant increase from the 14.6 per cent recorded in the 2011 STEPS Survey.
Dr Nand said the average age of a person living with diabetes in Fiji was now 47.6 years, placing the condition firmly within the country’s productive population. Among older adults aged 60 to 69, diabetes prevalence rose sharply to 36.5 per cent.
“Women accounted for 53.7 per cent of people living with diabetes, a trend influenced by several risk factors, including overweight and obesity.”
The survey also showed variations by location, with the Western Division recording the highest diabetes prevalence at 18.2 per cent, followed by the Central Division at 16.9 per cent.
Dr Nand said recent changes to Fiji’s diabetes guidelines including updated diagnostic benchmarks. Under the revised standards, fasting blood sugar levels below 5.6 millimoles per litre are considered normal, while 5.6 to 6.9 indicates pre-diabetes, and 7 or above is classified as diabetes.
Findings from the diabetes cascade of care showed gaps in awareness and control, particularly among younger people.
“Only about 5 per cent of young respondents with diabetes were aware of their condition, while 33 per cent were receiving medication.
“While treatment coverage shows some progress, there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of compliance and achieving proper control.”
Dr Nand said the data underscored the urgent need for early screening, lifestyle changes, and preventive interventions, especially among young adults, to slow the growing burden of diabetes in Fiji.
