Dr Sim at the Diabetes Malaysia Sarawak Branch Resource Centre

suppadmin | November 14, 2015

One in five Malaysians suffers from diabetes with half of them not realizing they have the disease.

Sarawak United People’s Party president Senator Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian said as such, it is vital for the public to learn more about diabetes, both its symptoms and how to prevent it as prevention is better than cure.

The normal symptoms of a sufferer include the urge to drink a lot of water, constant passing of urine and dramatic weight loss.

He added that diabetes is a chronic and lifelong disease that affects not only the patient but also those around them.

“Back in 1986, diabetes in Malaysia was only at 5.7 per cent, 20 years later in 2006 it went up to 15 per cent and in 2011, 20 per cent. I believe that by 2016, it will increase more,” Dr Sim said at the ‘blueing’ of the Diabetes Malaysia Sarawak Branch Resource Centre on Thursday.

He called diabetes “the mother of all illnesses” as it can affect the heart, brain, eyes, kidney and lead to leg amputations.

Dr Sim pointed out that in Sarawak alone, half of dialysis patients are diabetic. At Sarawak General Hospital at least two legs are amputated every week.

The younger generation should not have the misconception that they are too young to get diabetes.

“Diet is an important aspect – taking too much carbohydrates like noodles and rice can contribute to diabetes because it is converted into sugar in the body, and not just watching the intake of sugar alone. Four cans of Coca-Cola a day amounts to the same calories needed for the body in a day. One can contains seven teaspoons of sugar,” he cautioned.

“In Southeast Asia, Malaysia has the highest number of diabetics and people should do a blood glucose test, which is available and free at government hospitals and clinics.”

He said if either parent has diabetes, their child has a 25 per cent chance of developing the disease.

Dr Sim called on the people to manage success and enjoy their wealth carefully.

“Enjoy your success and live healthier and longer. Don’t use your hard earned wealth to pay the medical industry. Diabetes is an expensive business in terms of cost of needles, medications and complications,” he said.