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‘Invisible disease’ a serious problem in Singapore: PM Lee

SINGAPORE — Singapore is behind only the United States in terms of the prevalence of diabetes in developed countries, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is concerned.

Diabetes strikes one in nine Singaporeans today, but its prevalence almost triples with age. Among the population above the age of 60, three in 10 are diabetic. Photo: Najeer Yusof/TODAY

Diabetes strikes one in nine Singaporeans today, but its prevalence almost triples with age. Among the population above the age of 60, three in 10 are diabetic. Photo: Najeer Yusof/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Singapore is behind only the United States in terms of the prevalence of diabetes in developed countries, and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is concerned. 

In his National Day Rally speech, he urged Singaporeans to take action to control and guard against the disease, such as by getting regular health checks, exercising, eating healthily, and cutting down on sugar intake.

He cautioned: “You may not think diabetes is a major problem but, in fact, it is very serious in Singapore. Particularly so for older people, but increasingly for younger Singaporeans.”

Diabetes strikes one in nine Singaporeans today, but its prevalence almost triples with age. Among the population above the age of 60, three in 10 are diabetic, he said. The disease also has a higher occurrence among ethnic minority groups. For those over 60 years old, six in 10 Indians and half of Malays are diabetic, as compared to 2.5 in 10 among the Chinese.

Diabetes is a challenge to tackle because it is an “invisible disease” in the early stages, Mr Lee said. “You don’t feel sick, there are hardly any symptoms. You may not even know that you have it. But if it is not treated, over time, it can become very serious.”

Diabetes may not be listed among the top causes of death here, but many fatal health complications — such as heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure — can be traced back to organ damage due to diabetes, he said.

The disease may also cause blindness, impotency, or result in patients having to amputate their limbs.

Mr Lee advises people to go for health checks to find out if they have diabetes or are at risk of it. “Don’t take the attitude that it is better not to know. You must want to know, because if you know your condition, then you can do something about it,” he added, noting that the Ministry of Health will, from next month, offer screenings for those aged over 40 at just S$5. The screenings typically costs over S$100.

Health checks alone do not cure the illness, he pointed out, “unless you do something with the results”. If findings show that something is amiss, one should consult a doctor, take necessary medication, and exercise.

Noting that many Singaporeans — including himself — lead sedentary lifestyles, Mr Lee advised that “the easiest way to get more exercise is just to walk a little bit more every day”.

Some ways to do this include taking the stairs instead of the lift, or getting off the train a stop early and completing the rest of the journey on foot.

In recent years, Mr Lee has taken to social media to post photographs of his strolls around Singapore with the hashtag #jalanjalan, a colloquial Malay term describing “going for a walk”.

He suggested that those who enjoy working out with family and friends can also sign up for group activities such as zumba and line dancing. The Health Promotion Board gave out step trackers to the entire audience — numbering about 1,300 — at the rally. 

Another way to stay healthy is to eat less and sensibly, Mr Lee said. Noting that families are increasingly eating out and opting for fast and unhealthy meals out of convenience, he recommended choosing healthier dishes at hawker centres and switching white rice for brown or mixed grain. These have a lower glycaemic index, keeping a person fuller and blood sugar levels stable for longer. A better diet can be achieved by making small changes, he said.

Mr Lee’s fourth piece of advice, targeted especially at young people, is to cut down on sugar intake. “We are seeing more diabetes cases among young people ... including children. And that means big trouble for their health.” 

The Government is still searching for ways to fight this menace, but personal choice and responsibility can go a long way in guarding against diabetes, or keeping it under control, PM Lee said.

DIABETES STATISTICS IN SINGAPORE

  • One in nine Singaporeans has diabetes, with higher prevalence among those who are older. For example, of those aged above 60, three in 10 have diabetes.
  • The racial prevalence of diabetes among those above age of 60 is 2.5 in 10 for Chinese, five in 10 for Malays, and six in 10 for Indians.
  • Obesity is one of the causes of diabetes. Among five-year-olds, one in 10 is overweight.
  • Singaporeans are also eating more. Twenty years ago Singaporeans ate, on average, 2,100 calories every day, which is about the right amount. By 2004, it went up to 2,400 calories. By 2010, it went up to 2,600 calories.

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