Diabetes could affect one in seven Bermuda residents or higher, claims nurse educator Christine Johnson.

Earlier this week, at the launch of a corporate screening programme, a Bermuda Diabetes Association spokesman had put the figure at one in eight.

But Ms. Johnson, who works at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital's Diabetes Centre said: "In Bermuda we have between 9,000 and 10,000 sufferers which makes it one in seven.'' She said Bermuda's figure was far worse than America where the rate is one in 11 -- and the true figure could be even higher because many sufferers are unaware they have the disease, which can be a killer.

"A lot of people don't know they have it,'' she said. "The figures are already devastating -- we are getting around two or three new cases a week.

Sometimes we have as many as eight.

"I trained in the UK where you might have two patients out of a ward of 37 with the disease -- here you can have 22 on a ward.'' As people were getting the disease earlier, said Ms Johnson, the gruesome consequences were also making themselves felt earlier.

Amputations, caused by blood circulation problems were now being done on middle-age sufferers rather those in their latter years.

"We had one gentleman in his 40s who had part of his foot taken off. This used to be something that would happen to people in their sixties.

"People can go undetected for years and just go merrily on their way. In a lot of cases you can't reverse the clock but you can slow the disease down and prevent further complications.'' She urged everybody to get tested because those who were showing danger signs could stop themselves getting diabetes with evasive action such as improvements in diet and exercise routines.

"Nowadays doctors realise the importance of checking people before they reach diagnosis of diabetes.'' She warned that those who fall into the grip of diabetes can face a lifetime of injections, daily testing and medical bills.

She said: "In the worst cases you end up paying $120 a month plus doctor's bills.

"This epidemic boils down to a change in lifestyle and eating habits,'' she added She said sufferers were prone to infections and had difficulty getting wounds to heal.

Other symptoms included exhaustion, extreme thirst and impotence. She advised those worried they have the disease to consult a doctor.

She said it was time for schools to ban candy to reinforce the healthy eating message.

Education Minister Sen. Milton Scott said some schools had already taken this step but he would not be enforcing a universal policy.

Sen. Scott said: "This is a decision for parents. We won't be jumping on the bandwagon.'' "Some people want to ban Hallowe'en, Christmas, everything.''