The Island Rodrigues

 

Area

109 km²

Location

Island in the Indian Ocean East of Mauritius

Population

Approx. 40'000 residents of African and European descent

Languages

English, French, Creole
 

Diabetes: Disease No. 1

Since 2002 Rodrigues is autonomous from the main island Mauritius. Medical infrastructure is limited. The percentage of people suffering from diabetes is more than twice as high as in Switzerland and blood pressure levels are amongst the world’s highest ever measured! The causes of this critical health situation lie in the genetically predisposed population’s acceptance of a Western European lifestyle as well as in their lack of understanding of diabetes and its complications.