Fijians consume a lot of processed carbohydrates such as bread leading to diabetes crisis

Fijians consume a lot of processed carbohydrates such as bread leading to diabetes crisis – Dr Maharaj

By Navitalai Naivalurua

27/12/2025

Former President of the Fiji College of General Practitioners and a General Practitioner with a special interest in NCDs, child health and natural medicine, Doctor Rajesh Maharaj says the problem in Fiji is that people consume a lot of processed and refined carbohydrates such as bread, white rice, biscuits and snacks.

While speaking on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan on how concerning the statistics of diabetes in Fiji are, Dr Maharaj says many people have diabetes and are not aware that they have the disease.

He says the amputation rate is alarming, but people are ignoring the symptoms.

He adds that people are not eating healthily and the messaging is not translating into behaviour change, and he believes that there is a need to revisit the strategy being used to control the disease.

Dr Maharaj says Fijians should revert to healthier carbohydrate options.

Insert: Dr Maharaj on healthy carbohydrates, 26th Dec 25.

Meanwhile, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill highlighted views presented in Dr William Davis’ book Wheat Belly, claiming that the wheat commonly consumed today is different from traditional wheat varieties.

She says the wheat was hybridised in the 1950s to address food shortages in parts of Africa, India and Mexico.

O’Neill claims that this hybridisation changed the starch structure, known as amylopectin A, which she says can raise blood sugar levels significantly.