Diabetes in Antigua Fact File

    Population: 90,000

    At 13%, the island nation Antigua and Barbuda has a very high prevalence or number of people living with diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes is expected to increase due to an aging population and the presence of risk factors such as obesity, family history, and hypertension.

Prevalence of Diabetes and weight-risk factors In Antigua

 

 Males

 Females

 Total
Overweight

 55.3%

 68.7%

 62.1%
Obesity

22.8%

 39.0%

 31.0%
Diabetes

 12.0%

 13.6%

 13.2%

How does Antigua’s diabetes prevalence compare with similar countries?

Results of the Quality of Diabetes Care Improvement Pilot. Data extracted from the Chronic Care Passport. Antigua, 2012.

Patient Characteristics

 Total (n)

 111
Gender

 Female (%)

 67.3
Age

 Mean

 68.3
 

 60+ (%)

 81.8
 

   Baseline

 Follow-up
A1c

 Measured (%)

 23.4

 42.7
 

 Mean

 7.9

 7.1
 

 <7% (%)

 42.3

 60.0
Fasting Blood Glucose

 Measured (%)

 27.0

 61.0
 

 Mean

 148.3

 137.3
 

 <130 mg dl (%)

 43.3

 52.0
Glucose Control

 A1c<7/Fbg<130 (%)

 50.0

 53.8
Blood Pressure (BP)

 Measured (%)

 100.0

 93.9
  SBP (mean)

 141.7

 133.2
  DBP (mean)

 83.8

 80.7
BP Control

 <140/90 mm hg (%)

 29.1

 54.5
Body Mass Index (BMI)

 Measured (%)

 41.8

 42.7
 

 Mean

 29.4

 30.2
BMI Classification

 <25 KG M2 (%)

 26.1

 20.0
  25-29 KG M2 (%)

 26.1

 25.7
  >29 KG M2 (%)

 47.8

 54.3
Meal Plan

 (%)

 3.6

 4.9
Foot Exam

 (%)

 5.5

 24.4
Eye Exam

 (%)

 27.3

 52.4
    In Antigua and Barbuda, the Medical Benefit Scheme (MBS) covers most of the costs of doctors visits related to diabetes and diabetic medications. The most commonly prescribed medications are: insulin, metformin, and a drug class known of sulfonylureas. MBS also covers glaucoma and hypertension.

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