SINGAPOREANS WITH DIABETES

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SINGAPOREANS WITH DIABETES

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(Preventive measures from developing into other medical complications): **

56.

Mr Ong Ah Heng asked the Minister for Health what measures are in place to prevent the estimated 8% of Singapore’s population who have diabetes from developing other medical complications such as stroke, kidney failure, blindness and foot diseases.

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Mr Khaw Boon Wan: There is still no cure for diabetes. But doctors now know how best to control the disease to prevent or reduce the risk of developing further complications, such as kidney failure, gangrene, blindness or even death.

The control measures are effective, only if patients are cooperative and comply with their doctors’ advice. In almost all cases, they would need to change their lifestyle, watch their weight, exercise more, stop smoking, take medications and attend regular medical screening. As healthcare providers, we can only provide advice and offer prescriptions; the patients must take personal responsibility and act on the advice.

Many are still unaware that they have diabetes as it is a silent disease in its early stage. From next week, all Singaporeans above the age of 40 will be reminded by the Health Promotion Board to go for regular screening by their family GPs.

For those with abnormal results, the GPs will advise them to follow up in accordance with a structured treatment protocol. Under the protocol, the diabetic patients are monitored regularly for good blood sugar control and undergo annual eye and foot checks as well as urine tests for early kidney disease. This is supported by patient education efforts through nurse health educators. Patients can use their Medisave Accounts to help pay for the treatment.

Regular screening and proper disease management programme, with full compliance by patients are the key measures to help diabetic patients avoid, delay or reduce the onset of complications.