Curaçao Declares Emergency as Diabetes Cases Surge
Curaçao is facing a growing health crisis, with one in five adults now living with diabetes and the island’s healthcare system struggling to cope with the increasing demand for care. The Curaçao Medical Center (CMC) declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, warning that the situation threatens both public health and the nation’s finances.
The surge in diabetes cases is particularly concerning due to the high rate of severe complications, including kidney failure, amputations, and blindness, which are appearing at increasingly younger ages. Curaçao currently has the second-highest prevalence of conclude-stage renal disease requiring dialysis in the region, a treatment that costs approximately 100,000 Caribbean guilders (around €47,000) per patient annually.
Type 2 diabetes, often linked to lifestyle factors such as obesity, a diet high in fast food, and a lack of exercise, accounts for the majority of cases. Yet, approximately 180 people on the island live with type 1 diabetes, including children, requiring lifelong insulin dependence. This complex situation underscores the need for comprehensive diabetes prevention and management strategies.
Healthcare professionals have identified several key challenges contributing to the crisis, including a shortage of specialized personnel, insufficient reimbursement for primary care physicians providing diabetes care, and lengthy wait times for essential services like eye care. These factors are hindering access to timely and effective treatment, potentially worsening patient outcomes.
Representatives from the Ministry of Health, Environment and Nature, the Social Insurance Bank, the Curaçao Association of General Practitioners, and other healthcare partners convened at the CMC to discuss potential solutions. Experts from the Dutch treatment center ‘Diabeter’ also participated, offering insights into addressing the growing problem. The organizations involved emphasize that diabetes must be addressed as a national emergency, and are working on a joint plan with concrete measures to prevent further escalation.
The situation in Curaçao highlights the global challenge of rising diabetes rates and the strain it places on healthcare systems. Effective prevention, early detection, and comprehensive treatment plans are crucial to mitigating the impact of this chronic disease on individuals and communities.
