“Worldwide, diabetes causes more death than cancer and AIDS combined,” was one of many staggering statistics Debbie Jones shared with the members of the Hamilton Rotary Club yesterday.Ms Jones, the manager of the Bermuda Hospitals Board Diabetes Centre, was the guest speaker at the Rotary’s meeting where she discussed in depth the causes, effects and symptoms of diabetes. She also offered many more frightening facts about the disease.During the midday luncheon, the Hamilton Parish resident delved into the differences between type one and type two diabetes.“Type two diabetes accounts for more than 90 percent of diabetes worldwide,” said Ms Jones.“In the sixties and early seventies type two diabetes was a rare disease affecting the elderly. Today it has mushroomed into a global epidemic that is threatening the healthcare budgets of every country in the world.”Type two diabetes stems from poor lifestyle habits such as lack of exercise and unhealthy food choices, explained the health practitioner. This differs from type one diabetes which is due to the body’s inability to produce enough or any insulin to break down dietary sugars.Ms Jones explained that diabetes has become a worldwide epidemic, and that Bermuda is not alone in being so heavily affected.In discussing ways to combat the epidemic, Ms Jones advised that exercising for 30 minutes most days of the week, eating healthily and reducing one’s sugar intake all can fight the onslaught of diabetes. She also added that being overweight or obese is a huge factor in developing the disease.Citing an overseas campaign aiming at altering the general public’s perception on the disease, Ms Jones said: “You wouldn’t eat 22 packs of sugar, so why are you drinking them?” The BHB Diabetes Centre manager was referring to the unnatural levels of sugar people consume when drinking sugary beverages, and added that cutting out these drinks and increasing your water intake will prevent people from ‘drinking themselves fat.’At the end of her insightful speech, Ms Jones took questions from the audience.When asked whether BHB has put any pressure on Government to pass legislation forcing restaurants and cafes to post calorie counts next to menu items — a growing practice in many US states such as New York — Ms Jones said that programmes such as the stop light system, food posters advising healthy eating habits and calorie counters are going to be implemented. The stop light system, she continued to explain, is a food awareness campaign where red, yellow or green markers will be placed on food items in grocery stores. These markers are meant to encourage healthy choices among shoppers. A red marked item means stay away, a yellow item means have caution and a green marked item is good food choice. Ms Jones also mentioned that local grocery stores have been really co-operative with the hospital and the Ministry of Health in creating this system.Useful website: bermudahospitals.bm