Dr Jusoh: Diabetes can be prevented, controlled with healthy lifestyle
KAPIT: The one- day ‘Diabetes Camp’ held yesterday from 8 am to 5 pm at the conference room Bletih in the State Complex received overwhelming response.
Originally planned for seventy participants, about one hundred members of the Kapit Diabetes Club turned up for the programme which was organised by the Kapit Health Clinic in collaboration with the Clinic’s advisory panel.
Administrative Officer of Kapit Resident Office Minggu Jampong on behalf of Kapit Resident Joseph Belayong officiated at the event.
Minggu explained that diabetes results from too much sugar in the blood. In Malaysia, studies by National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2011 showed that diabetes is prevalent in 15. 2 per cent of adults 18 years and above and 20.8 per cent in those above 30 years old.
The breakdown of diabetics by ethnic groups show that Indians recorded highest rate at 24.9 per cent, Malays 16.9 per cent and Chinese 13.8 per cent. 52 per cent of the patients were unaware that they suffer from diabetes, he revealed.
In Kapit division, 3788 diabetes patients registered with the health clinic, with 2937 seeking treatment at Kapit Health Clinic, 404 at Song Health Clinic, 239 at Belaga Health Clinic and 208 at Sungai Asap Health Clinic.
Minggu said that it is believed there are many more diabetics who are not registered with the health clinic due to ignorance.
He congratulated Kapit Health Clinic on helping patients control their illness. The success rate at 36 per cent is top in the country as far as keeping diabetes under control is concerned.
Director of Kapit Health clinic Dr Jusoh Awang Senik who is also chairman of the Kapit Diabetes Club warned that diabetes is one of the major health problem that affects the global community irrespective of gender, age, race and social status.
The alarming increase in diabetes cases each year should be a wake-up call for us.
Dr Jusoh said that according to the International Diabetes Federation, it is estimated that by the year 2030, some 552 million of the world population would suffer from diabetes; that is one in every 10 adult persons or 3 new cases for every second.
By 2020, it is expected that some 4.5 million Malaysians would suffer from diabetes. The main contributing factor is related to the unhealthy eating habits with high sugar intake, obesity and the lack of physical exercise. Based on NHMS-IV carried out in 2011, 80.6 percent of the diabetic patients are seeking treatment at government facilities, 17.5 percent in private hospitals, 1.6 percent taking their own treatment and 0.2 percent taking traditional medication.
Diabetes is one of the main factors that caused kidney/renal failure. In Malaysia according to a report by the National Renal Registry 2012, diabetes is the main cause for late stage kidney failure where it accounts for 58 percent of new patients seeking dialysis treatment in 2012.
“Thus one way to create awareness on such health issues is through the social media by the Ministry of Health that includes healthy living through reducing the consumption of sugar, salt, fatty food and eating more vegetables and fruits instead. Thus it is my hope that each and every one will practice a healthy lifestyle, eating habits and do enough physical exercise to prevent the onset of diabetes”, Dr Jusoh said.
He added that the Ministry of Health on its part is trying its best to provide the necessary health care for the people including mobile clinics even to the remote areas to ensure that all Malaysians have access to medical and health treatment.
He cautioned the people not to take diabetes lightly. “Diabetes causes heart problem, renal failure, blindness, amputation and other complications
. It can be a burden to the families and affects the daily lives of patients. Thus everyone must take preventive measures against diabetes and lend a helping hand to the diabetic patients”.
Dr. Jusoh suggested that those above 35 years old need to have annual health screening. He added that to coincide with the World Diabetes Day several health talks were held on diabetes, dental care, health care, child care and health care for mothers for the benefit of the people.
The Diabetes Camp aimed to create awareness about diabetes among the people in Kapit and to encourage them to take the necessary preventive measures besides serving as a platform for acquiring information on health and for the clinic to impart the knowledge on the importance of looking after one’s own health.
Among the activities were talks on symptoms, medication, post maintenance, healthy diet, recommended exercises, Q and A.
Also present were Dr Esther Kiyuh, speakers Wong Siew Ing, Tiong Hui SSing, Ngu Chiew Pin and Michael Seruji.