Press Release

Exhortation to the deaf community and their families to complete registration to strengthen the information available on this population in Puerto Rico

 San Juan, Puerto Rico — March 18, 2026. The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute), in collaboration with the Deaf Community Liaison Office and several agencies of the Government of Puerto Rico, urged deaf people, people with partial hearing loss, deafblind people and their families to participate in an online registry that will allow the collection of key information about this population in Puerto Rico.

The initiative is developed in accordance with Executive Order OE-2026-002, issued by the governor of Puerto Rico, Jennifer A. González Colón, which instructs the Institute of Statistics, in collaboration with the Department of Health, the University of Puerto Rico, the Vocational Rehabilitation Administration, the Deaf Community Liaison Office and other entities, to carry out a formal effort to collect information about the deaf community in Puerto Rico and its characteristics, including the communication methods used.

As explained by the executive director of the Institute, Dr. Orville M. Disdier, community participation is essential for reliable information to guide public decision-making and the development of initiatives aimed at this population. “Having reliable information is essential to be able to develop public policies and services that respond to the real needs of the community. That's why we invite deaf people, those with hearing loss and their families to participate in this registry. Their participation will strengthen knowledge about this population and support informed decisions for the benefit of the deaf community in Puerto Rico,” said Disdier.

It takes three to five minutes to complete the registration. Participation is encouraged to:

• Deaf people
• People with partial (mild to moderately severe) hearing loss
• Deafblind people
• Families and caregivers who support people with these conditions

Interested persons can complete the registration at the following link: surveymonkey.com/r/deafspr

Information and guidance

Individuals or organizations interested in receiving guidance or collaborating in the dissemination of this information can contact:

Deaf Community Liaison Office (OECS)
Phone: 787-725-2333 ext. 203
VRS: 787-773-1487
Email: oecs@dpi.pr.gov
Website: www.dpi.pr.gov

Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics
Telephone: 787-819-0730
Email: preguntas@estadisticas.pr

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They reveal an increasing trend in the incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in the

pediatric population in Puerto Rico

At the launch of the first Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Platform in Puerto Rico

The incidence rate of Type 1 Diabetes in the pediatric population (new cases per 100,000 people between 0 and 18 years of age) shows a tendency to increase over the years, with 2009 being the year with the lowest rate (20.5), and 2021 the year with the highest rate (38.4). Although there are variations, on average, the incidence rate shows an increasing trend of 1% per year. In the most recent available year, 2022, the incidence rate was 34.2 new cases per 100,000 people between 0 and 18 years old. These data were revealed during the presentation of the first Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Platform in Puerto Rico, developed by the Statistics Institute of Puerto Rico in partnership with the Pediatric Diabetes Foundation. This platform provides essential statistical data for understanding and addressing Type 1 Diabetes in Puerto Rico and is available at: https://estadisticas.pr/en/diabetes-tipo-1.

“These data are essential to be able to establish public policies for management, allocation of funds and resources, for researchers, doctors and for the families of patients living with diabetes. We needed an entity such as the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute with the expertise and willingness to help us with the statistical process, which resulted in an important alliance of will between the Foundation and the Institute. Today we can present the result of the collaboration between the Foundation and the Institute,” said Bernardo Maldonado, president of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Pediatric Diabetes Foundation.

According to the executive director of the Institute of Statistics, Dr. Orville M. Disdier, this platform represents an essential advance in the understanding and management of Type 1 Diabetes in the pediatric population. “These findings, presented for the first time on an interactive platform, provide a detailed view of the situation of Type 1 Pediatric Diabetes in Puerto Rico, which is essential for guiding public health policies and resource allocation,” said Dr. Disdier.

The findings detailed on the platform reveal significant data for the period from 2009 to 2022. Among these, the following stand out:

• Between 2009 and 2022, a total of 2,850 people between 0 and 18 years of age were diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes for the first time. On average, 204 cases of Type 1 Diabetes are diagnosed annually in people 18 years of age or younger.
• Most of the cases (67%) diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes for the first time were between 5 and 14 years old. The average age of these cases was approximately 10 years.
• Overall, 53% of the cases were male and the remaining 47% were female.

In addition, Mariana Benítez Hilera, executive director of the Pediatric Diabetes Foundation, emphasized the Foundation's work in collecting unique data since 2008. This is thanks to a collaborative alliance with the hospitals where these patients are diagnosed and pediatric endocrinologists. “Once a child is diagnosed with diabetes, the first help they receive at the hospital is from our Foundation, which in turn helps us to have contact with their family right from the start and help them throughout the education process,” said Benítez Hilera.

Dr. Marina Ruiz, a pediatric endocrinologist, emphasized that Type 1 Diabetes is the type of diabetes that most affects the pediatric population. “It's an autoimmune condition that has no cure and can't be prevented. The condition requires a multidisciplinary team, such as the one found at the Pediatric Diabetes Foundation, to achieve successful management. This is the first time that statistics on diabetes in children aged 0 to 18 have been generated in Puerto Rico, which will help position our island on the world map with validated and reliable data. This will lead to the development of clinical studies in the near future to continue expanding our knowledge of the condition. In addition, it helps to carry the message to communities so that they have symptoms present and thus avoid acute and/or chronic complications.” said Ruiz.

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They offer to ensure publication of statistics on dengue