South Asian Health Support Programme

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

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• Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease with disordered metabolism.

• Occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the body cannot effectively use the insulin.

• Leading to an increased concentration of glucose in the blood

• Increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease, heart diseases, foot gangrene, retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy.

 

Diabetes in Hong Kong

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• Top ten of the killer in Hong Kong

• One in ten of the adult suffers from Diabetes

• 728 died of diabetes in 2004 : 43% and 57% Female (DHHK 2006)

 

Causes of Diabetes Mellitus

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• No definite cause found yet

• Genetic or personal reason

• Some drug or disease - cause pancreatic damage / affect pancreatic function in secreting insulin

 

Risk factors

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• Genetic factor: Family history of DM

• Obesity

• Getting older usually after 45 years of age

• History of gestational diabetes or having big baby

• Lack of exercise

• Smoking, drinking too much alcohol

• People with cardiovascular diseases

• People who has endocrine disease, pancreatic disease; and those taking steroid.

 

Common symptoms

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Many notice the disease only when the complications arise     

  

• >70% do not know they got DM

• When blood sugar is high

   -  Frequent urination, especially at night

   -  Thirsty all the time

   -  General tiredness

   -  Weight loss

   -  Blurred

• Increase appetite and feel hungry easily

 

Prevention

 

• Eat balanced diet (more high fiber food: vegetable, fruit, cereals, whole grain)

• Do regular exercise

• Maintain ideal body weight

• Avoid eating too much at one time to prevent accumulation of calorie and body fat

• Avoid food that is too sweet and too oily

• Parents should encourage children to develop good eating habit

 

Treatment

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• Early stage: consult dietitian, healthy diet, exercise

• If unsatisfactory control: Oral hypoglycaemic agent

• Later stage: may need insulin injection