After diabetes, which claims about 1700 lives annually in Fiji, coronary heart disease is the second highest contributor to Fiji’s mortality rate.

Diabetes Fiji chair Taabish Akbar revealed that coronary heart disease claims more than 1400 lives annually.

Akbar says around 400 lives are lost due to stroke every year while around 300 deaths are recorded for kidney disease.

“We need to reiterate at this point that all of these three are also related to diabetes so diabetes can be seen as one of the major causes”

Akbar is urging Fijian to change their eating habits and lifestyle in order to be a healthier nation.