Diabetes ‘time bomb'

Yes, this is what I would like to see our Health Minister spend more of his time on; healthcare and related issues. Foot and mouth disease, yes. Bigfoot in the mouth, no.

The Star, 19 May 2006: Diabetes ‘time bomb

SUNGAI SIPUT: Diabetes and end stage renal failure will soon become a big health problem in Malaysia if people fail to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said, currently, 8% of Malaysians are suffering from diabetes, and some 11,500 from end stage renal failure.

“Malaysians will have to start changing their lifestyle if they want to avoid becoming victims of diabetes and kidney problems later,” he said, adding that by 2050, 12% of Malaysians would suffer from diabetes while in 2010, 25,000 from kidney failure.

It had become a challenge for the ministry to lower the number of people suffering from diabetes and kidney failure, Dr Chua told reporters at Sungai Siput Hospital yesterday where he launched a haemodialysis unit.

“The ministry will focus on campaigns to promote a healthy lifestyle under the Ninth Malaysia Plan and instil the importance of maintaining good health,” Dr Chua said, adding that Malaysians made up the highest number of kidney failure patients among Asean countries.

Full report in The Star, 19 May 2006.