Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Health will be conducting the second National Health and Nutritional Status Survey early next year to determine the prevalence of diabetes among Bruneians.

Speaking during the launch of World Diabetes Day celebration yesterday, Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman said that previous survey, which was conducted in 1997, indicated that diabetes in Brunei was as high as 14-15 percent. "Today, nearly one in three of our youths are overweight or obese," he said.

The minister placed an emphasis on type 2 diabetes in which he said that by being overweight and physically inactive are two major risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes.

In addressing the issue, he described a research demonstrating that "people at risk for type 2

diabetes can prevent or delay developing diabetes by losing a little weight with moderate diet change and physical activity".

He mentioned a study which tested two different approaches for preventing diabetes. One was lifestyle change — a program of healthy eating and exercise 30 minutes a day for five days and receiving the diabetes drug.

"The result showed that people in the lifestyle group reduced their risk of type 2 diabetes by 58 percent," he said, adding that it was even more effective in people aged 60 and older.

"They reduce the risk by 71 percent. People receiving the diabetic drug reduced their risk by 31 percent."

With all the research and studies, Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi also believed that "the fight against diabetes must be done at an individual level."

He added: "There is probably no cure for diabetes but there are ways to stay healthy and reduce the risk of complications."

He also cited other "grim" statistics in which recent studies conducted in various disciplines showed that diabetes can lead to major ailments such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, amputation, kidney failure and even death.

These observations coupled with the worrying trend that increasing numbers of children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, the disease was perceived to be a problem in the country.

The minister said that according to WHO's Western Pacific Region Office in Manila, all countries are keen to develop registries to provide clear data with which government agencies and hospital administrations can he persuaded to act. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times