The figures on diabetic cases are just the official reported cases. It is almost certain that there are more cases going unreported or worse still, undetected.
Diabetes Type 2 is strongly linked to high sugar consumption and obesity.
In 1998 when CAP re-launched its Anti-Sugar campaigns which we had previously been conducting for over 10 years, we had a discussion with the Health Minister and were informed that meetings were being held with the manufacturers of sweet food and drinks, and sugar contents would be reduced. Unfortunately, nothing came of it.
The former Health Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek had taken up this issue and asked carbonated drinks manufacturers to reduce the sugar content, in their products.
In view of our country’s alarming diabetic rates, which are only expected to worsen over the coming years, much more needs to be done — with greater urgency.
Firm action needs to be taken against the numerous sweets and confectionaries that have flooded the Malaysian market. These products that are being marketed to children are not conducive to health.
They contain basically nothing more than sugar, colouring and other additives which are not even labeled on the packaging. Children receive no nutritional benefit from consuming these products. Some of these items are from China, where food safety standards have been questioned recently.
Sugary soft drinks, either carbonated or non-carbonated, used to be more of a luxury in the past and they were consumed as a treat. Parents would often insist that one bottle of drink be shared among the siblings, thus avoiding over-indulgence.
Nowadays, these drinks are sold in abundance, and vending machines are found at many locations, including airports, hospitals and schools. It is becoming increasingly common to see these drinks being offered in “jumbo” portions.
Recommendations
Among others, CAP urges the Health Ministry, working together with other related ministries, to take the following actions:
Parents, in turn, must play their role in ensuring that highly-sugared products and sweets are not stocked in their homes.
Overall, an environment that is conducive for individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices should be created. This is especially critical when it comes to the younger generation.
If no drastic steps are taken to halt the deadly diabetes trend, we will simply be churning out the next generation of diabetics and as each successive World Diabetes Day comes around, we will only be celebrating worsening diabetic statistics.
Read more about how diabetes and more than 60 other diseases are linked to sugar in the CAP Guide, How Sugar Destroys Your Health