Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says he has lost loved ones due to diabetes and is now cautious about his blood sugar level.

While officiating at the Diabetes Campaign Launch 2024 at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Friday, he urged Fijians to take care of their health.

“In 1958 ‘Vula’ died, 1960 tamana died, 1963 nana became blind, 1992 nana died,” he said.

He said last Saturday his doctor told him to “watch your blood sugar”.

“Those days and figures may mean nothing to you. But it was until much later that my mother was told that she lost her two infant sons because of her diabetes.

“And she became blind in 1963, because of diabetes.

“She died in 1992, not being able to see me from 1963 to 1992 because she was blind all that time.

“She felt my uniform, and the time I got promoted in the obstacle course, but didn’t see me in uniform.

“So, when Dr Om told me that last week, I was very careful to keep it under control.”

He said in 2020, Fiji lost an estimated 5700 Fijians due to NCDs related courses.

“The burden of health costs on individuals, families, the workforce and the government is alarming.

“Around 80 per cent of deaths in Fiji are caused by diabetes and other NCDs and these numbers are rising.

“Children, adults and the elderly are all vulnerable to the risk factors contributing to NCDs including unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco smoke exposure and the harmful use of alcohol.

“With many of these lives cut short by heart diseases, diabetes, stroke and controlled hypertension, cancers and other chronic diseases.”

He said one in 10 adults worldwide have diabetes and over 90 per cent of those cases are type 2 diabetes with close to half undiagnosed.”