Raising awareness and funds for diabetes in the Pacific

A FATHER and son will be among participants who will embark on a physical and mental journey through the Kokoda Track, in Papua New Guinea, next week.
Brad Watson and his son Zac, 17, will form part of a 25-person team to make the arduous 96-kilometre journey through the PNG forest.
The group is taking on the track to raise awareness and funds for the 10,000 Toes Campaign, an initiative that aims to stamp out diabetes in the South Pacific.
Dr Watson, a lecturer at Avondale College of Higher Education, in Cooranbong, and Zac, a student at the college, have been training for more than three months.
“There’s a walk called The Gap, at Freemans Waterhole, which is described as 1.3 kilometres of vertical pain,” Dr Watson said.
It has become a popular training ground for people preparing to take on the Kokoda Track.
“We’ve been walking there, sometimes at night, and getting spooked by rustling in the bushes,” Dr Watson laughed.
Zac, meanwhile, has been fitting exercise into his daily routine at the college.
“There’s a four-storey building here and I’ve been going up and down the steps for an hour whenever I can,” Zac said.
Dr Watson lived in Papua New Guinea in the 1990s, so he has a better understanding than most of what the group will encounter.
He said the historical significance of the Kokoda Track would not be lost on the group.
During World War II, the track was the site of the 1942 battle between the Japanese and the Allied forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua.
“Learning about the military history there has been really humbling,” he said.
This time, though, the Australian contingent will be battling diabetes in the Pacific Islands.
The 10,000 Toes Campaign takes its name from the amputations that Pacific Islander people endure as a result of acquiring type-2 diabetes.
Dr Watson and Zac have each set a fundraising target of $1,500 (about K3,360.97).
Also on the trip will be Travis Townend and his Chelsea. For Travis, his Kokoda journey started in 2011. At that time Travis, and his father Glenn climbed the tallest mountain in Papua New Guinea, Mt Wilhelm.
“It was a good bonding experience for both of us,” said Travis. “We mentioned then, let’s do Kokoda one time. I didn’t know if it would ever eventuate.”
The trek is a joint initiative of Adventist Health and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia.
There are three strategies for the 10,000 Toes campaign
The first is to provide kits for early detection of Type 2 Diabetes and associated lifestyle diseases.
The kits provide user-friendly screening tools for the early detection of Type 2 Diabetes. Also other associated lifestyle diseases. The re-useable kits will allow trained local people to administer appropriately. Included in the kits will be glucometer’s to detect the possibility of diabetes in the body by testing blood sugar glucose levels. This is vital in early detection of the disease and prevention of complications such as amputation of toes and limbs!
Full training on the use, and on-going maintenance of the various components of the kits will occur.
The goal to provide one to each village, and province of each South Pacific Island. As a result the campaign will be saving 10,000 toes and beyond!
The second strategy is to implement community based programmes to prevent, arrest and reverse the diabetic pandemic sweeping across the Pacific.
10000 Toes is passionate about educating and equipping the people of the Pacific Islands. Firstly encouraging and resourcing them to take charge of their health. As a result, they can reverse the epidemic of diabetes in their homes.
10000 Toes will be educating whole villages and families about the benefits of healthy living. This will help to prevent and reverse diabetes and other lifestyle diseases in current and future generations. A holistic approach includes teaching about nutrition, exercise, good sleep, hygiene, fresh air and much more.
Delivered by ADRA Australia, the ‘Live More Abundantly’ and the Complete Health Improvement Program (CHIP) are evidence-based interventions. They will provide culturally appropriate lifestyle education and support. This will enable South Pacific families to make the changes needed to stamp out Type 2 Diabetes in their communities. Teams of trained facilitators will present these programs. They will be provided with resources, ongoing training and accountability.
The third strategy is one of great importance. Up skilling and training medical professionals to be able to diagnose and detect Type 2 Diabetes early.
To be able to better manage the complications, and as a result offer a more holistic approach to treatment via lifestyle changes.
Extra training will be provided in areas such as advanced wound management and rehabilitation. Appropriate pharmaceutical treatments and possible disease reversal will also be addressed.
1000 Toes is establishing a South Pacific Lifestyle Medicine Association. This is to foster the free sharing of up-to-date relevant information and learnings relating to lifestyle diseases.
75% of deaths in the South Pacific are due to diabetes and lifestyle related diseases.
We need to act now to reverse this horrific trend, and help our neighbouring countries in the South Pacific Islands who don’t have access to the technology, training and healthcare that we enjoy in the western world.
The leading cause of amputations and toe loss in the South Pacific is now Type 2 Diabetes. Due to diabetes being a lifestyle related disease, it has become a bigger challenge than leprosy!
Thirty years ago leprosy, a disease caused by bacteria, led to toe loss and amputations. As a result of dietary and lifestyle changes, diabetes is now even more dangerous.
In 2017, there were 371 million people with diabetes. It is estimated that by 2035, there will be 592 million people with diabetes. World Statistics – The International Diabetes Federation.
There are already 30 million people with diabetes in the Western Pacific Region
1.4 million people with diabetes in the territories of the South Pacific Division
1 in 4 Pacific Islanders (Adult) is a diabetic

Diabetic related amputations in the South Pacific
30,000+ amputations per year
560 amputations per week
80+ amputations per day
1 amputation every 20 minutes