[ad_1]
KUALA LUMPUR: One in two patients did not know they had diabetes until they had a blood sugar test, said Chief Health Officer Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He said that most incidences of diabetes can be prevented with good lifestyle habits and that the disease can be found early with regular screenings.
In conjunction with today’s World Diabetes Day, Noor Hisham said the health ministry advised Malaysians to prevent and control diabetes by adopting a healthy lifestyle through a balanced diet, an active lifestyle, cultivating a healthy mind and not smoking and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption.
He said that adherence to treatment and advice from health professionals and adopting a healthier lifestyle will help to control diabetes at an optimal level while avoiding complications.
“The country is suffering from the Covid-19 pandemic that has seen no signs of ending anytime soon. Studies have shown that older people and people with obesity, diabetes and hypertension are at increased risk of severity and death from Covid-19 virus infection, “he said in a statement.
“The 2013-2019 National Diabetes Registry Report found that only 32.4% of patients who sought care in Ministry of Health primary care clinics in 2019 achieved an optimal level of diabetes control.”
Noor Hisham also said that the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) revealed that 3.9 million (18.3%) of Malaysians over the age of 18 had diabetes, a significant increase from 11.2% in 2011 and the 13.4% in 2015.
He said that diabetes not only has a negative impact on quality of life and health care costs, but also increases the economic burden on individuals, families and communities, as well as affecting national productivity.
He said the theme “Diabetes: Nurses Make a Difference” was chosen for this year’s World Diabetes Day to raise public awareness of the important role nurses play in the prevention and control of diabetes in Malaysia and around the world.
“There is no denying that the role of nurses and other front-line health professionals is crucial in managing patients with diabetes, especially with the growing number of patients each year,” he said.
