Prof Dato Dr Mustaffa Embong
KUCHING: Coordination is the key to ensuring that the number of diabetics in the country does not continue to increase each year.
This was suggested by National Diabetes Institute (Nadi) honorary executive chairman Prof Emeritus Dato Dr Mustaffa Embong, who pointed out that despite measures being taken to address the situation, Malaysia remains among the top ranking countries in the world when it comes to diabetes.
“Since 2011, Malaysia holds among the highest ranking not only in Asia but around the world. A lot of people such as the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are doing a lot of things for diabetes but there’s no coordination.
“We need to do a lot of coordination. The responsibility of trying to control diabetes is not our job alone but it should involve ministries, NGOs and consumers who should also give their full commitment,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Dr Mustaffa, who is here for the 10th Diabetes Complications Conference & Grand Rounds and Diabetes Asia 2018 Conference, explained that in order to get the ball rolling, ministries in the government can do their bit to ensure that the number of diabetes cases can eventually be reduced.
“For example, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry can be involved by encouraging people to plant more fruits and vegetables and make them easily available for the people. Even the Housing and Local Government Ministry can also do their part by ensuring that jogging tracks or common halls for exercise are available at housing estates as part of compulsory planning,” he said.
He also proposed that the government look into enforcing policies that encourage the reduction of sugar and carbohydrates in food and beverages much like in countries such as United Kingdom (UK).
“In the UK, they have introduced a tax on high-sugar drinks as part of their prevention of obesity because it is the main driving force in terms of diabetes. Perhaps our government can look into this or even restrict excessive food availability and high-calorie food,” he suggested.
Apart from that, the Ministry of Education also plays a prominent role in grooming, training and making sure that children are aware of healthy eating and lifestyle right from the beginning, he added.
Dr Mustaffa is also looking to propose to the government that Nadi take charge as the coordinator of all diabetes programmes in the country.
“This is in view that since we are the stakeholders on diabetes care, we will take responsibility on behalf of the government to coordinate as well as monitor the implementation of diabetes convention and treatment programmes in the country.
“We can work with other stakeholders who are involved in diabetes so at least we know that everything is coordinated,” he remarked.
On the current diabetes situation in the country, Dr Mustaffa revealed that around 50 per cent of the population do not realise that they have diabetes until they develop complications.
“Diabetes used to occur among those in their 50s and 60s but these days even those in their 20s or 30s have diabetes due to factors such as food, sedentary lifestyle and so on. Furthermore, there is a major misconception that diabetes is not serious because people have the idea that when they meet someone who is diabetic, he or she does not seem to be sick until they develop the complications.”
As such, he stressed that there is a need for people to go for annual blood sugar test even though they do not have symptoms.
“We encourage people to go for this test, which is a simple finger-prick test, at least every year to know their blood sugar level.
“The test is very simple as it takes less than a minute and you will immediately know whether your sugar level is high or not,” he said, adding that most of the time, the test is provided free of charge or charged at a very minimal fee of RM1 or RM2.