Diabetes is increasingly affecting younger Fijians, with cases now being diagnosed in children as young as one year and seven months, according to the latest findings highlighted by Diabetes Fiji.
Diabetes Fiji executive officer Kini Marawa said the 2025 Fiji NCD STEPS Survey showed the disease was no longer confined to older age groups.
“4.7 per cent of young adults aged 18-29 years now live with diabetes,” Mr Marawa said.
“Tragically, the youngest diagnosed cases with Type 1 diabetes stand at one year and seven months, 11 years old with Type 2, and a stroke recorded in a 12-year-old.”
He said the findings also exposed significant gaps in diagnosis and treatment.
“Among those living with diabetes, only 46.5 per cent are aware of their condition, a mere 33 per cent to 71 per cent receive medical treatment a critically low 6.2 per cent to 21.5 per cent achieve optimal blood glucose control.”
He said the consequences were devastating, with non-communicable diseases responsible for 80 per cent of all deaths in Fiji and between 30 and 40 per cent classified as premature deaths among adults aged 35 to 55.
“Diabetes is also the root cause of 68.5 per cent of end-stage kidney failure cases and 27 per cent of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.
Mr Marawa said the survey further found an amputation is performed every 8.5 hours, while 45 per cent of cardiac admissions were linked to life-threatening heart attacks, contributing to seven deaths every day.
