World Diabetes Day: One in Six Sarawakians Now Diabetic, Says Dr Sim

suppadmin | November 16, 2025

Sarawakians are being urged to take diabetes more seriously as the number of cases continues to rise, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Dr Sim said the state’s diabetes rate has grown to the point where one in six Sarawakians is now living with the condition, a sharp increase from past decades.

“In the late 1970s and early 2000s, our diabetes rate was about four per cent. Today it has risen to 15 per cent, which means one in six people. Among Sarawak Bumiputera, the rate has reached 17.2 per cent,” he said at the World Diabetes Day 2025 celebration at the Kuching Waterfront on Friday.

He said many people remain unaware that they have diabetes and only discover it when complications such as stroke, heart attack, kidney failure requiring dialysis, or even amputation occur.

“These complications can be avoided if diabetes is detected early and managed properly,” he added.

Dr Sim also pointed to lifestyle habits common among Asian communities, including high carbohydrate intake and frequent consumption of sugary drinks, which increase the risk of developing the disease. He stressed that daily eating habits play a major role in long term health.

The Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government said prevention is far more important than relying solely on healthcare facilities. Without personal discipline in maintaining health, he said, no number of hospitals or doctors will be able to cope with the increasing burden of disease.

In conjunction with World Diabetes Day, the Darul Hana Bridge was lit in blue under the “Turning Blue” campaign to show global solidarity in raising awareness of diabetes.