You are here: Home » 0 » » Archives for 0st

Promote education on diabetes for a healthier tomorrow

BRUSSELS, Belgium, Nov. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) is delighted to renew its support to World Diabetes Day (WDD) for the eleventh consecutive year, joining the call to action from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to highlight the need for better access to quality diabetes education to protect tomorrow.1

Promoting better access to diabetes education
More than half a billion people are currently living with diabetes worldwide and millions more are at risk of developing diabetes. One in two people with diabetes don't know they have the disease and remain undiagnosed. Importantly also, it is predicted that by 2030 the number of adults living with diabetes will rise to 643 million, and to 784 million by 2045.2 Therefore, people living with diabetes need access to ongoing diabetes education, including on nutrition, to understand their condition and carry out the daily self–care essential to staying healthy and avoiding complications.

Join the workshop organised by the Mexican Diabetes Federation
Healthcare professionals are invited to join the workshop organised on 23rd November 2022 from 5:00 to 7:00pm, Mexico City time (midnight to 2:00am CET on 24th November), by the Mexican Diabetes Federation (Federacin Mexicana de Diabetes "" FMD) and supported by the ISA on the theme "Uses and benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners'. More information on the programme and registration is available here.

Discover the latest dietary guidelines for obesity and diabetes management
A webinar by the European Federation of Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) and its European Specialist Dietetic Network (ESDN) on Obesity taking place in November 2022 (exact date TBC) will present the latest nutritional guidelines for obesity and diabetes management, including about the role of sugars and low/no calorie sweeteners. More information will be available soon.

Education on low/no calorie sweeteners can help people living with diabetes: ISA campaign for WDD 2022
Both health professionals and people living with diabetes need to have better access to nutrition education in diabetes, including about the role of low/no calorie sweeteners in diabetes control.

Low/no calorie sweeteners offer people with diabetes broader food choices by providing the pleasure of sweet taste without affecting blood glucose control.3 Studies show that unlike carbohydrates, low/no calorie sweeteners do not raise blood sugar level,4,5 and that people with diabetes can use them safely. This is also recognised by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which authorised the health claim that low/no calorie sweeteners used as a replacement for sugars induce a lower blood sugar rise after consumption compared to sugar–containing foods and drinks.6

The ISA website provides numerous educational materials on low/no calorie sweeteners' role in diabetes, including recordings of previous webinars and scientific events, as well as various resources for healthcare professionals that have been developed with the aim to provide evidence–based scientific information on the safety, use, role and benefits of low/no calorie sweeteners, such as the infographic: "Low/no calorie sweeteners in diabetes' and the media factsheet "Diabetes and Blood Sugar Control with Low/no Calorie Sweeteners'.

ISA activities for World Diabetes Day have been endorsed by diabetes organisations including the Brazilian diabetes association7(ANAD), the Colombian Diabetology Federation8 (FDC), the Mexican Diabetes Federation9 (FMD) and the Brazilian Federation of Diabetes' Organisations10 (FENAD).

Share the ISA campaign for World Diabetes Day 2022 on social media with your friends, family and network by using the dedicated hashtags #ISA4WDD, #WDD2022 and #EducationToProtect.

Follow @SweetenersAndU, ISA Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and subscribe to the ISA YouTube channel to find out more about this campaign and webinars and to advance your knowledge on what can be done to prevent or manage diabetes!

More information about ISA activities for World Diabetes Day is available here.

ISA Video to Promote education on diabetes for a healthier tomorrow – ISA supports World Diabetes Day 2022 is available here.

REFERENCES

  1. World Diabetes Day (WDD) 2022. Available at: https://worlddiabetesday.org/
  2. IDF Diabetes Atlas. Available at: https://diabetesatlas.org/
  3. Diabetes UK. The use of low or no calorie sweeteners. Position Statement (Updated December 2018). Available at: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/professionals/position–statements–reports/food–nutrition–lifestyle/use–of–low–or–no–calorie–sweetners
  4. Nichol AD, Holle MJ, An R. Glycemic impact of non–nutritive sweeteners: a systematic review and meta–analysis of randomized controlled trials. Eur J Clin Nutr 2018; 72: 796–804
  5. Greyling A, Appleton KM, Raben A, Mela DJ. Acute glycemic and insulinemic effects of low–energy sweeteners: a systematic review and meta–analysis of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2020; 112(4): 1002–1014
  6. EFSA Scientific opinion on the substantiation of health claims related to intense sweeteners. EFSA 2011 Journal 9(6): 2229, and 9(4): 2076
  7. Federacin Diabetolgica Colombiana
  8. Federacin Mexicana de Diabetes

info@sweeteners.org

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/be8b9a0a–54bc–4c7e–9239–099313ecc0cf


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8696305)

Government of St Kitts and Nevis does NOT accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for its Citizenship by Investment programme

Basseterre, Nov. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The government of St Kitts and Nevis, along with the Citizenship by Investment Unit of the country, have refuted claims that investors interested in gaining citizenship to the country can pay using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

The St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment programme is the oldest in the world, having been established in 1984 "" it has been providing investors from across the globe with one of the quickest, easiest, and most affordable routes to second citizenship.

Underpinned by a robust multi–layered due diligence process undertaken by international security firms from the USA and the UK, investors need to go through a formal application process consisting of eight main steps, which include:

  • Step 1: Pre–approval by a verified St Kitts and Nevis government agent and preparation of the application
  • Step 2: Submission of the citizenship application
  • Step 3: Application processing by the Citizenship by Investment Unit and internal and external due diligence checks
  • Step 4: Approval in principle letter issued
  • Step 5: Contribution to either the Sustainable Growth Fund or pre–approved real estate
  • Step 6: Bank clearance of source of funds
  • Step 7: Certificate of Registration issued
  • Step 8: Citizen can apply for a St Kitts and Nevis passport

Throughout the whole process, an investor will engage with an approved government agent who will facilitate the application and any payments will be made via registered banks using fiat money – a government–issued currency that is not backed by a commodity such as gold. An example would be the United States Dollar, Euro or Chinese Yuan.

Investors cannot make payments to a government–approved agent or the Citizenship by Investment Unit by using cryptocurrencies directly. These would need to be liquidated into fiat currency first and an applicant would need to provide a supporting affidavit regarding their source of funds as part of the application process.

St Kitts and Nevis has not yet passed any legislation regarding cryptocurrency. The country is participating in the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) pilot program, which aims to study the utilisation of cryptocurrency as a fiat currency.

The program's purpose is to provide a safe and secure digital financial system by utilising the advantages of blockchain and is designed to exemplify the viability and functionality of the ECCB's ability to issue Digital Eastern Caribbean Dollars.

The ECCB is the fiscal authority for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).

Speaking at the Electronic Cash Conference 2022, which was held on November 12 2022, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, expressed that while Bitcoin Cash "" another form of cryptocurrency "" is used as a method of tender by some businesses in the country, due diligence checks are presently being prioritised by his government ahead of any major decision concerning that cryptocurrency's official use.

Prime Minister Drew stated that the financial safety and security of citizens is a matter of high priority, and the government, with the guidance of the ECCB, is prepared to explore the possibility of Bitcoin Cash being introduced as legal tender in the local financial space.

The Prime Minister explained that once all the crucial financial safeguards were in place, Bitcoin Cash could become accepted legal tender in St Kitts and Nevis by March 2023.

Benefits of gaining second citizenship to St Kitts and Nevis

Citizenship by Investment is a legal process to grant individuals "" and, in some cases, their families "" dual citizenship in exchange for a financial contribution to the country's economy. The initiative permits countries to channel generated funds into developing healthcare, education, infrastructure, and more.

Being a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis offers investors a myriad of benefits including family reunification, global mobility, enhanced security, and increased economic opportunities.

St Kitts and Nevis offers award–winning and internationally acclaimed education institutions like veterinary and medical universities, attracting global–minded professionals. People from all over the world come to St Kitts and Nevis, over a million a year to be exact, because of its booming tourism sector.

In recent years, the nation has seen growing numbers of American visitors. Around 1,000 US citizens currently reside on the islands. Now, with more work–from–home policies than ever, many see the Caribbean as the perfect destination to get away from the bustle of big cities while continuing to be connected when business calls.

In addition to citizenship and global mobility, St Kitts and Nevis offers its citizens who choose to become tax residents a wide variety of insurance services in a tax–friendly environment. For example, the country guarantees financial privacy by not making any information about offshore business owners and top managers public.

Portfolio diversification is the first step in dispersing your investments so that your exposure is not limited to just one type of asset. An investment in property in St Kitts and Nevis would allow you to diversify your investment portfolio and potentially make a return upon selling that your share in real estate after the end of the minimum hold period.

This will also ensure that you retain a certain amount of your wealth outside of your home country. In uncertain political and economic climates, knowing that a portion of your portfolio is free from the grips of a potentially corrupt government can give you tremendous peace of mind.


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8696223)