Officials raise alarm on diabetes in Cambodia
The world’s population of diabetics is on track to reach 642 million by 2040, a sizable increase from 425 million in 2017, and one patient dies every eight seconds from the chronic disease.
Officials raised the alarm at recent events marking World Diabetes Day, noting that diabetes is also a cause for concern in Cambodia.
In Cambodia, a number of healthcare-focused events were held, including one on non-communicable diseases (NCDS), in Battambang.
“Diabetes is a chronic disease that places a heavy burden on Cambodia and the world, feeding a 2% mortality rate from NCDS,” said Battambang provincial governor Sok Lou.
There are three main types of diabetes, according to the World health Organisation (WHO).
Type one diabetes is a condition that people are born with and usually manifests during childhood, while gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy.
Type two diabetes, increasingly the most common type, is influenced greatly by one’s lifestyle. It is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, but behaviours that greatly increase one’s risk of developing it include an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, tobacco use and heavy consumption of alcohol.
Previously common among adults, type 2 diabetes is also seen increasingly frequently in children, according to WHO.
Voeung Bunreth, director of the Battambang provincial health department, said the most common diabetes, type two, also happens to be the type that can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices or early treatment while a person is in the pre-diabetic stage.
“The consequences of diabetes are damage to the heart, eyes and kidneys as well as ulcers on the legs and possibly amputation of the legs.
“Diabetes treatment is lifelong, but it is effective if done correctly, and diabetes can largely be prevented through a healthy and balanced diet,” Bunreth said.
World Diabetes Day was observed on Nov 14 this year with the theme “Together we can prevent obesity and diabetes through lifestyle changes”.