CAP: Diabetes the Silent Killer
November 14 is World Diabetes Day. Since it was launched by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organisation (WHO) in 1991 it has become the primary awareness campaign of the global diabetes community.
This year’s theme, “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps,” emphasises the importance to reduce the risk of diabetes, and ensuring that all those who are diagnosed with diabetes have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable and quality treatment and care.
Every year on this date the Ministry of Health launches a campaign to create awareness on the effect of diabetes. In spite of this, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Malaysia, especially that of Type 2, has increased to epidemic proportions.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 almost 2.3 million adults in the country live with four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs) namely diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity. Diabetes was identified as one of the major killer diseases in Malaysia.
The report also stated that almost 3.6 million or one in six adults (15.6 percent) were diabetic. Shockingly, 84 percent of adults aged 18-29 years with diabetes did not know that they are diabetic. It was also reported that young adults were also affected.
Malaysian adults are also getting fatter with a rising obesity rate at 54.4 percent. It was also reported that the trend in overweightness and obesity among adults in Malaysia rose 10 percent in a decade. With an obesity rate of 54.4 percent, a significant proportion of the population is at an increased risk to be diabetic.
A sedentary or inactive lifestyle is one of the causes of the increasing number of Malaysians to be overweight and obese. According to experts, the “fat phenomenon” in our country can be attributed to a combination of poor eating habits, a diet high in calories, and a decline in physical activity, resulting in more caloric intake than is required by the body.
In addition, more meals eaten away from home, fewer family meals, and greater portion sizes may also have contributed to overweightness. Furthermore, the boom in mobile entertainment devices and too much screen time has also contributed to sedentary lifestyles.
The diabetes prevalence rate in Malaysia has risen much faster than expected, almost doubling in magnitude over the last decade. Diabetes does not only take a toll on the country’s resources, but also on the limbs (amputation), eyesight (blindness), kidney (failure), heart (failure) and nerve (damage) of its sufferers.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that can be prevented and for those affected, diabetes can be managed to delay or prevent its complications by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making better choices in their diet.
In view of the alarming rate of diabetes among Malaysians, CAP urges the authorities to:
- Ban the use of High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), a cheap and unhealthy substitute for refined sugar, in food products.
- Amend labelling laws to make manufacturers change their labels to clearly indicate the amount of sugar in their food by showing the number of teaspoonful of sugar in their foods.
- Stop the advertisements of high-sugared and other junk food and drinks in television.
- Ban the sale of junk food in school canteens and food hawking within a fixed perimeter around schools so that school children are not tempted to purchase unhealthy food.
- Initiate the removal of vending machines dispensing junk food and sugary drinks from areas such as hospitals, airports and schools. Instead provide drinking water in water dispensers at these places.
- Launch a massive campaign in the mass media to educate the public on the dangers of diabetes.
- Launch a massive campaign to encourage consumers to engage in physical activities to avoid being obese.
- Stop issuing 24-hour licenses to eating outlets.
Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)
Press Statement, 13 November 2024