Articles - Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin Resistance and its Impact on St Lucian Society

The University of the West Indies Open Campus, Saint Lucia will be hosting two one-day seminars on “Metabolic Syndrome/Insulin Resistance and its Impact on St Lucian Society”.
The seminars which will be held at the UWI Open Campus, Morne Fortune on the 5th and 6th of March are a collaboration between the UWI Open Campus, The Caribbean Association for Plant Science Industry, Commerce and Use in Medicine (CAPSICUM) and The Optimum Health Clinic and Medical Centre (Antigua ) Ltd. The facilitator for both seminars will be Dr Jose Humphreys of the Optimum Health Clinic and Medical Centre based in Antigua. Dr Humphreys specializes in the use of herbs as an alternative means of dealing with the many diseases related to the syndrome and is the author of the seminal text ‘A Guide to Caribbean Herbs’.

What is Metabolic
Syndrome?
According to the American Heart Association, Metabolic Syndrome is characterized by the existence of a group of metabolic risk factors in one person. They include
• Abdominal obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
• Atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders — high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol and high LDL cholesterol — that foster plaque buildups in artery walls)
• Elevated blood pressure
• Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body can’t properly use insulin or blood sugar)
• Prothrombotic state (e.g., high fibrinogen or plasminogen activator inhibitor–1 in the blood)
• Proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated C-reactive protein in the blood)
People with the metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of coronary heart disease and other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease) and type 2 diabetes so prevalent in St Lucia. Metabolic syndrome has become increasingly common in the United States where it is estimated that over 50 million Americans have it. Unfortunately, since our lifestyle in the developing world increasingly mimics that of first world countries, we too find ourselves at increased risk.
The dominant underlying risk factors for this syndrome appear to be abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a generalized metabolic disorder, in which the body can’t use insulin efficiently. This is why the metabolic syndrome is also called the insulin resistance syndrome. Other conditions associated with the syndrome include physical inactivity, aging, hormonal imbalance and genetic predisposition.
       
     
     

Meet Dr Humphreys
Dr. J. V. A. Humphreys is a highly qualified physician, minister and missionary. His private practice (Optimum Health Clinic Ltd) located at Belmont Medical and Surgical Centre, is a distinguished medical facility where numerous treatment and diagnostic modalities are offered. These include but are not limited to Bio-oxidative Therapy, Nutrition, Proliferative Injection Therapy, Photoluminescence Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Allergy Testing and Management, Immunotherapy, Pain Management & Physiotherapy, Integrative Oncology, Bariatrics and Cold Laser Treatment.
He is the publisher and producer of the free periodic magazine Health Watch. Dr. Humphreys has functioned as a consultant to government bodies, private institutions and individuals. In 2006, he represented Antigua and Barbuda at a Bahamian medical conference where he received the “Most Outstanding Person of the 20th Century” award. Dr. Humphreys has done scores of lectures across the region including Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, Bahamas, Montserrat and Nevis.
Dr. Humphreys is an Ordained Minister of the Gospel and serves as Youth Pastor in his church. He is also the Chairman of the State Youth and Christian Education Board. His affiliations are with Church of God and Fellowship of Christ International. He believes in giving back to the society. He is also co-founder and Executive Director of St. Sampson the Hospitable Missions.
In 2010, Dr. Humphreys led a team to the earthquake torn country of Haiti. They worked in the rural area of LaSille and at Bethel Clinic (Fond-De-Negres) and the capital Port-Au-Prince. They also distributed medical supplies and taught over 30 physicians and nurses American Heart Association approved courses (Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Adult Cardiac Life Support).
On July 28th 2010, Dr. Humphreys received the Distinguished Service Award from Church of God World Missions for “dedicated service to the people of Antigua in the field of Medicine and with grateful acknowledgment of his professional medical attention given to the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the January 2010, devastating earthquake”. This was presented at the 73rd Bieenial International General Assembly of the Church of God held at the Orange County Convention Center July 27th-30th 2010, in Orlando, Florida
Dr. Humphreys is a Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy (Biblical Counseling) both with highest honors (Sum Cum Laude). He is presently pursuing a Master in Divinity with Nations University.