Don't Eat Too Many Fruits, Doctor Cautions Diabetics By Azaraimy HH

Bandar Seri Begawan -  There are a number of activities lined up to mark Healthy Heart Month this month, organised by the Health Ministry and Gleneagles JPMC, including free health checks, exhibitions, and medical talks. Last Sunday, a talk on diabetes was held at the Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong.

In the talk, Dr Haslinda Hassan, endocrinologist at the RIPAS Hospital, advised people with diabetes against eating too many fruits, as the act could "dramatically" increases their blood glucose level. Fruit is an important component of a healthy diet, but it is best to eat fruits that do not raise the blood glucose excessively, Dr Haslinda added.

The talk was opened to the public.

Dr Haslinda said some fruits like rambutans have high glucose contents. Some - like watermelons and very ripe bananas - consist mainly of glucose and have little fibre content; eating substantial amounts of those fruits will usually cause "substantial" increase of blood glucose levels.

Healthy eating, combined with regular physical activities and proper weight control, is "important to the management" of diabetes, Dr Haslinda said.

Chances of a coronary heart disease increase 2 to 4 folds in diabetic patience, the doctor said, and death from heart attacks increase 2 folds. Meanwhile, chances of a heart failure would go up 2 to 5 time more; in fact, I to 3 diabetic deaths are due to heart diseases.

In Brunei in the tear 2000, 31 percent of patients admitted to RIPAS Hospital for heart attack were diabetic, the doctor revealed. Figures from JPMC Gleneagles show that 243 out of 529 patients who underwent per cutaneous angioplasty there were diabetic, while 165 of the 271 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass were diabetic.

Some 80 percent of patients undergoing dialysis treatment at dialysis centres are diabetic, Dr Haslinda said. Most of the diabetic patients in Brunei fall in the type-2 category, which means that they are non-insulin dependent, she went on. These patients' pancreases do make insulin but the amount is not enough to keep their blood glucose in a safe range.

Factors that could bring about diabetes in someone are genetics, obesity, sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles (no exercise, poor eating habits), being over 40 years old and - in women - pregnancy.

Dr Terrace Chin from Gleneagles Malaysia and Hj Abdul Khalid As'ari from RIPAS Hospital also gave talks at the gathering.

Meanwhile, there will be a free health screening at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait from 10 am to 3 pm on September 18, accompanied by a health talk for the public on how to prevent the next heart attack and other related topics, scheduled for between 2 pm and 4 pm.

On September 24, there will be another public talk at the Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong, on heart attack treatments and coronary artery bypass surgery. On September 25, there will be a mass exercise for the public, colouring contests and bouncers for children, as well as exhibitions and a lucky draw at the JPMSS Polo Field in Jerudong to commemorate the Healthy Heart Month. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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