Alarming trend
The fact that diabetes rates are not only increasing but increasing among the young is a cause for concern, writes Meera Murugesan
YOUNG and unhealthy. These two words shouldn’t usually go together but these days an increasing number of patients with type 2 diabetes are young people in the prime of their lives. At a period when they should be their most productive and healthy, they are instead coping with the challenges of managing this lifestyle disease.
Being unhealthy at a time when they are building their careers or starting families means these patients and their families will face heavy consequences.
Sunway Medical Centre’s (SunMed) director of Allied Health Services Sherry Woo says SunMed’s Diabetes Care Centre has seen a 65 per cent increase in new diabetes referrals between 2012 and 2017. One out of five patients counselled were below the age of 40.
The prevalence of diabetes among younger patients only goes to show that there’s still much work to be achieved to successfully stop diabetes in its tracks, adds Woo.
“As a frontrunner in diabetes education, we have developed a unique system which supports our patients to follow through with their diabetes management plans, resulting in a lasting improvement in their quality of life.
“Among our many successes, we have helped diabetes patients achieve an ideal HbA1c level within an average of two months after being referred to our Diabetes Care Centre.” The team of diabetes nurse counsellors at the hospital work diligently with patients to ensure compliance with their diabetes management plan. More importantly, they provide the much-needed hand-holding to enable patients to confidently Woo says SunMed has developed a unique system for patients. The ‘Healthy Diabetes Living Starts with Breakfast’ initiative provides a platform to reach out to patients and the public at large on the risks associated with skipping breakfast.
manage their condition at home too.
From 2012 to 2016, SunMed also ran the “Let’s Take 5” diabetes awareness campaign, focusing on the top five complications resulting from diabetes.
The hospital has also become the latest healthcare institute to collaborate with Nestle Health Science’s highly successful “Healthy Diabetes Living Starts with Breakfast” roadshow.
The national educational initiative kickstarted in 2016 to educate and empower the public on the importance of healthy eating as part of a successful diabetes self-management programme.
Woo says the initiative provides yet another platform for the hospital to reach out to and educate its patients, and the public at large, on the risks associated with skipping breakfast.
Skipping breakfast severely affects those with diabetes and causes their blood sugar level to plummet. It is also one of main reasons why people lead unhealthy lifestyles because of the tendency to overeat during the
rest of the day.
A healthy breakfast is therefore important, especially after long hours of fasting (during sleep), as it will warrant better blood glucose control for the rest of the day.
Emilyn Loo, business executive officer for Nestle Health Science, says that over the last two years, they have collaborated with hospitals nationwide to reach out to the public regarding diabetes management.
“There is no cure for diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable and can be managed with healthy eating habits and a strong commitment to live a healthy lifestyle.
“For people with diabetes, this entails an understanding of the role of nutrition and the use of a complete and balanced nutritional supplement to help regulate blood sugar to stay in control and feel energised for the day,” says Loo.
The healthy eating approach starts with breakfast, the most important meal of the day. Research has shown that having a nutritious and healthy breakfast each morning, helps to regulate blood sugar levels and kick-start metabolism. Don’t skip breakfast and start the day right. Young people need to put more thought and care into staying healthy.