15 Million Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Patients in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Diabetes mellitus in Indonesia is currently likened to a worrying iceberg phenomenon. The daily queues of patients at health facilities apparently do not reflect the true number of sufferers in society. Based on the 2023 Indonesian Health Survey (SKI), the estimated total number of diabetes mellitus sufferers reaches 30 million people. Unfortunately, half of this estimated population continues to go about their normal activities without realising their health condition. Millions of citizens have not been medically diagnosed, so their blood sugar levels continue to damage vital organ functions without adequate early treatment intervention. The biggest obstacle in tracking these millions of undiagnosed sufferers often stems from the psychological state of society. There is a tendency to avoid medical examinations due to anxiety over potential diagnoses that might require a complete change in daily eating habits. “Sometimes, there’s even a phenomenon where people get a chance for free health checks, for example, or an MCU (medical check-up) at their company, but they’re scared. Scared of being found out,” said the Chairman of the Indonesian Endocrinology Association (PB PERKENI), Prof. Dr. dr. Em Yunir, SpPD, K-EMD, FINASIM. Fear of losing the freedom to enjoy tasty food leads many people to turn a blind eye. On the other hand, stigma regarding the role of primary-level health facilities also makes the public reluctant to visit unless they feel seriously ill. “Usually, when people go to the Puskesmas, they feel, ‘I’m sick,’ right? ‘If I’m healthy, why would I go to the Puskesmas?’” said Dr. Nadia. The absence of significant physical complaints in the early stages allows this metabolic disorder to often go unchecked, damaging the body from within. However, this neglectful behaviour towards health history has very fatal consequences when patients eventually fall into advanced complication phases. “If blood sugar control is not optimal, damage to the kidney’s blood vessels occurs more quickly,” said Prof. Yunir.