Diabetes Today is a publication of the public relations consultancy firm PRMR Inc. and is circulated free of charge throughout Barbados. PRMR Inc.’s work is focused on the development sector and management of issues that contribute to a better world for all humanity, especially for women and girls. Its mantra is “PR for Good,” and it represents clients who care about people, the planet, and profit.
Diabetes Today aims to promote awareness of noncommunicable diseases and provide academic articles on current research for medical professionals plus informative, entertaining, and educational features for the average reader.
Message from the Publisher
Dr. Pamala Proverbs
In 1997, I strode into the Nation Newspaper to collect my cheque for the freelance stories I wrote about netball. It was my only job at the time, so when I passed Editor-in-Chief Harold Hoyte on the stairs, I could not resist asking whether the company had any more job opportunities. He said there was this project that was started a year prior, and they needed someone to manage it; he explained that he could get me an interview but could not guarantee that I would be chosen for the position. Well, I told him to get me the interview, and I would do the rest. The project turned out to be the Healthy Lifestyle Extravaganza. This was my first real foray into event promotion, and I took to the work like a duck in water; it was second nature. I eventually grew the Healthy Lifestyle Extravaganza into one of the largest national events, with smaller events that were held monthly throughout the length and breadth of Barbados called traveling aerobics. Through the Healthy Lifestyle Extravaganza, I was exposed to the Ministry of Health and all the health NGOs. This is where my passion for health issues was birthed.
When then my pal, Dr. Carlisle Goddard, asked me to help with a concept he had for an event to bring awareness to diabetes, I did not hesitate. By then, I had left the Nation and was working on establishing my public relations agency. Working with the Barbados Diabetes Foundation, I coordinated the first event at the Hilton Hotel. It was a small but successful affair.
The second event was bigger, and I had the idea that what was needed was a publication that would bring attention to this disease that impacted one in ten Barbadians. When I pitched my idea, however, no one took the bait, but I am pigheaded about my ideas, so I took the risk, bulldozed my friends and others for some ads and content, and was able to bring the Diabetes Today magazine to fruition just in time for the second Diabetes Global Village.
Throughout the publication’s life, we have had some editorial changes. There have been several demands from other health NGOs for a focus on their issues as well. I decided that I would not change the name but tweak the focus. The magazine is no longer just focused on the prevention and management of diabetes; its focus is now on the prevention and management of all chronic diseases through education and awareness.
The magazine went on pause while I was away pursuing my Ph.D. However, it has been on my mind every day to get it back out there as my gift to the people. I can still remember the two letters I received after the first publication. One was from a lady called Andrea. She said she was diagnosed with diabetes two years prior, and she was dismayed that there was very little information about diabetes and the information that was available was repetitive. She asked the five questions below:
- Why wasn’t I informed of the Barbados Diabetes Foundation?
- Why wasn’t I referred to the several different doctors and dentists I needed to visit?
- Why is there no literature on diabetes in the doctor’s office?
- Why do speakers on diabetes repeat the same common knowledge about the feet and the rise and fall in the blood sugar, but you’re never told that it affects your kidneys, heart, teeth, etc.?
- Why should I have to ask about getting my organs tested to ensure all is well when the doctor should be proactive and do it?
My heart went out to Andrea, and I felt a sense of satisfaction that, in some small way, I was helping to fill a gap and impacting lives for the better.
In Barbados, our doctors cannot advertise their services; this may be one of the reasons for a dearth of information. In this edition, we speak to Rachel De Gale, the co-owner of BioConnect. The clinic has exploded and is in high demand as the only menopausal clinic in the region. It is a lovely facility with friendly, discreet staff (I know from experience). While this might be the only clinic of its kind, I know of at least one other doctor who specializes in menopause on the island, but I heard about her through a friend. Even my GP has some of the same services for patients who are at this life stage, but she cannot advertise them. So, unfortunately, this is where some of the information deficit originates, in old established rules that prevent our doctors from promoting their service offerings.
I have committed to publishing two magazines a year now; the next one will come out in November for World Diabetes Awareness Month. This one will be dedicated to men’s health and will be a tribute to my dear friend the late Adrian ‘Boo’ Husbands, who was my cover for the 2010 issue. Reader, I hope that you will find some useful, inspiring information in this magazine, made possible largely by the dedicated work of my friend and colleague, Janelle Riley-Thornhill.
Past Publications
Write for Us
We are continuously looking for qualified medical and health writers. If interested, reach out to us at diabetestoday@prmrinc.net.
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Diabetes Today accepts advertising on all of its sites but maintains a strict and clear separation between advertising and editorial content. We pay special attention to featuring advertising in a way that will not interfere with your reading experience.
