KUCHING: Education, awareness and community action are crucial in reducing the incidence of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease in society, said Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor, Datuk Wee Hong Seng.
Wee said the number of people with diabetes in Malaysia has reached an alarming level, with one in five Malaysians – or 21 per cent of the population – living with the disease.
“In Sarawak, between 16 and 18 per cent of the population are affected. Diabetes is no longer a distant health issue. It is a crisis at our doorstep,” he said during the ‘Adopt A-Child’ Programme organised by Diabetes Malaysia Sarawak Branch (DMCNS) today.
He warned that uncontrolled diabetes could lead to complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes and amputations, causing severe financial and emotional strain on families.
While Type 1 diabetes accounts for less than five per cent of cases, Wee noted that children with the condition rely on insulin injections and continuous glucose monitoring to survive.
Test strips, which are essential, remain unaffordable for many families.
“The programme today, providing test strips to children with diabetes, is important because it brings real help to those who need it most,” he said.
Wee said that medical support alone was insufficient and urged parents to recognise early signs of diabetes while promoting healthy eating habits among their children.
“We must teach our young people to make better choices to reduce sugar intake, to be physically active, and to understand that prevention is always better than cure,” he said.
