| Rokiah Mahmud |
DIABETES is a non-communicable disease brought about by the inadequate production of insulin by the pancreas, leading to high levels of glucose (sugar) production. Over the years, it has remained the third leading cause of death in Brunei Darussalam.
According to the Brunei Darussalam National Health and Nutritional Status Survey conducted between 2009 – 2011, the rate of adult diabetes had climbed 12.5 per cent, which translates to 37,000 diabetes sufferers in the Sultanate.
This was yesterday highlighted by Head of Health Promotion Centre Dr Hajah Norhayati binti Haji Md Kassim in observing World Diabetes Day at The Mall in Gadong. The event was organised by the Ministry of Health through the Diabetes Centre of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital in collaboration with Health Promotion Centre.
Statistics released by the Ministry of Health in 2013 showed that 54.6 per cent of deaths in the Sultanate was due to non-communicable diseases including cancer, heart failure, diabetes, cardiovascular and stroke. Of that figure, 9.4 per cent of the recorded deaths was due to diabetes.
What is even more so worrying is that diabetes is not only diagnosed among adults, but also children and teenagers.
Present as guest of honour was Mukim Gadong ‘A’ Penghulu cum Legislative Council member YB Haji Tahamit bin Haji Nudin.
Mukim Gadong ‘A’ Penghulu cum Legislative Council member YB Awang Haji Tahamit bin Haji Nudin tours the exhibition
Schoolchildren take a closer look at health food items displayed at the exhibition. – PHOTOS: ROKIAH MAHMUD
Dr Hajah Norhayati, in her capacity as co-chairman of the organising committee, noted in her speech that obesity, which leads to diabetes, is becoming a major health problem.
A report from the Brunei Darussalam National Health and Nutritional Status Survey in 2009 – 2011 showed that 33.4 per cent of adults struggled with diabetes due to being overweight.
The global school-based health survey conducted in 2014 showed that 35.1 per cent of teens (aged between 13-17 years) were inching towards becoming overweight, while 17.3 per cent were actually overweight.
The main measure in preventing and controlling diabetes lies in the changing of mindset and behaviour of individuals by practising healthy lifestyle, healthy diets, taking two to three servings of fruits and vegetables every day, practising moderate physical activity at least 30 minute every day and to quit smoking.
“Early detection of diabetes can be made though periodical medical examination. Individuals who have a family history of diabetes and women who have had diabetes during pregnancy are at risk for Type 2 diabetes and should undergo regular health screenings,” she concluded.
In line with the theme ‘Act Today to Change Tomorrow,’ therefore, the primary objective of this year celebration is heightening public awareness on the importance of a healthy diet and lowering sugar intake.
Activities lined-up for the celebration included free health screening, exhibition on healthy diets and diabetes, ‘Diabetes Race’ and counselling sessions with health officers and podiatry officers.
World Diabetes Day is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes world and is marked every November 14. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world.
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