DIABETES IN MALAYSIA
MALAYSIA has the highest rate of diabetes in Asia and one of the highest in the world. According to the National Diabetes Institute, there are about 2.5 million Malaysians who suffer from diabetes, which is one of the leading causes of death globally in the past 15 years. While it is increasing at an alarming rate, what is more shocking is that more than half of those with diabetes are unaware that they have the non-communicable disease. National Diabetes Institute (Nadi) executive chairman Datuk Dr Mustaffa Embong said most of the time, diabetes does not have any symptoms at all until one develops a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, go blind or need to have amputations. He added that the “silent killer” disease afflicts
Malaysians as young as 18 years old.