By Zulkiple Ibrahim

In conjunction with the World Diabetes Day on Nov 14

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) --

The Malaysian Diabetes Association (PDM), in a report in 2007, said close to 1.2 million Malaysians were believed to have diabetes.The diabetes statistic for 2008 recorded an increase of some 650,000 while the figures are expected to further 'jump' this year.Diabetes is a chronic disease that gives rise to complications which may result in death and many diabetic patients only came to know that they had the disease until they started to experience complications."Diabetes can be avoided, unless it is caused by genetics, but the lifetsyle in this modern era makes its easier for people to contract this disease", said a dietician at a public health institution here.

HIGH BLOOD SUGAR CONTENT

"Have you ever given a thought that by consuming foods and beverages with excessive sugar content, would one day make your blood sugar content to be consistently high to the extent that you may develop diabetes?".That is the usual question posed by endocrinologists to their patients who are suffering from this disease.According to the endocrinologists and dietitians/nutritionists, diabetes develops not 'within the wink of an eye' but over a long period of time when the blood sugar level is consistently high.Diabetes is a result of taking excessive sugars without control usually from an unbalanced diet as well as unhealthy lifestyle like the lack of exercises and other physical activities."Diabetes is like a silent killer, lurking and waiting in the dark and will pounce once the situation is beyond control," said endcrinologist Dr S. Menon.However the genetical factor also came into play.

THE AZHAR STORY

Dr Menon told the episode that involved a patient who was known as Azhar (not his real name) where genetic was a factor in diabetes.Azhar, who hailed from a remote area in an East Coast state did not know that both of his parents were diabetic, not until he reached adulthood. So were both of his parents.Since in his early teenage years, Azhar had experieced the signs and symptoms of diabetes like excesive thirst, increased frequency of passing out urine and excessive tiredness."I did not seek any treatment as I thought it was something normal and did not require urgent attention until I came to Kuala Lumpur to further my education in the university." Azhar had told Dr Menon.Only after he developed a 'carbuncle' (swelling with abscess) at the back of his head that Azhar realised that he had diabetes.It was too late as both of his parents as well as his two elder brothers had died because of myocardial infarction, a diabetes complication where the heart muscle did not get enoughoxygen supply.

HIGH CARBOHYDRATE CONTENT

For someone who has high risk of developing diabetes, an unhealthy lifestyle would make it more likely for the person to develop this disease."Since small, my diet comprised of high carbohydrate content. Breakfast was rice, lunch was rice and dinner was definitly be rice too. As for supper, it was rice again."As for exercise, I did none", said another diabetic patent who wished to be known as Manan.According to Manan, he developed a craving for carbonated (fizzy) drinks when he was a university student."I took the drink each night until it became too late when I developed kidney failure due to diabetes complication," he said.

JUVENILE DIABETES, MATURITY ONSET DIABETES

According to Dr Menon, if a person inherited the disease from his or her parents then the diabetes was due to genetics and known as juvenile diabetes or Type I diabetes.For those who developed the disease after they grow older, then the diabetes is known as maturity onset or diabetes Type II. This diabetes is due to unhealthy lifestyle and unbalanced diet.Dr Menon said the complications of diabetes were 'very scary' but many among the public appeared to be unperturbed over the description of these complications until it became too late.The complications of diabetes can lead to death and it is no surprise that many have labelled diabetes as the 'mother of all diseases.Among the organs that can be affected by diabetes are the eye (complications can be in the form of cataract, glaucoma and retinopathy), kidney (diseases and failure), nerves (neuropathy), heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular problems), gums (periodontal diseases) and leg (vascular problems - gangrene and amputation).

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR LONG TERM

According to Dr Menon, balanced diet and healthy lifestyle to reduce the incidence of diabetes have always be advocated by the medical fraternity."But does this message get across to the public', she asked.She said usually many among the public were ignorant of the disease until they started to experience the compications and this was a bit too late.For those who are at risk, Dr Menon has this for advice:"Diabetes takes a long time to develop. Sometimes there are no signs and symptoms not until before we realise that we have diabetes."Make it a routine to have a medical examination every three or six mohths . For those already diagnosed with diabetes, they need to follow the treatment regime drawn out by their doctors".Practice a balanced diet and perform regular exercises apart from avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol.The bottom line is to consume less sugars.

Avoid getting a 'sweet life now but sufferings later'.