 As part of observances for World Diabetes Day, the Ministry of Health recently held glucose screening activities in the various health regions on the island. Acting health educator in the Bureau of Health Education Heidi Kojo-Jaganaf says it is necessary to educate individuals on the various foods to eat so as to prevent or manage diabetes and high blood pressure. We are working in collaboration with the other units in the Ministry of Health like nutrition and we decided to have an activity for persons with and without diabetes to do a more hands-on approach so they could see how a simple breakfast, healthy breakfast is prepared and portion size as well and we also did with them food labelling what to look for, the important indicators to look for if you're choosing to buy something such as your sugar, sodium, cholesterol and saturated fat. Kojo-Jaganaf says screening is extremely important and will assist individuals in undertaking interventions to prevent themselves from developing high blood pressure and diabetes. It's important that everyone does their checks and screening is very important. This is why we also had a session of screening for the month to encourage persons to come in for free to do their blood sugar checks, do their high blood pressure checks and most important because we are also able especially with nutrition on board and the nurses on board, community nursing that they are able to give referrals because we know high blood pressure is a silent killer. Participants of the glucose screening activity Anthony Louis says he will encourage others to get screened at an early stage so as to prevent the developing of diabetes. There was a lot within natural space of time that I was able to learn and also reassuring because some things that you know but you hate over and over is repeated and so it drives home the point of managing and caring for one's health. It is important, vital. We have to take responsibility for our health. So the education process is vital. The glucose screening activity included blood sugar testing, demonstrations of recommended plating methods, health education on living well with diabetes and serving of a healthy breakfast. Reporting from the communications unit of the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, I am Funa Neptune.