DM affects 12 million people

DM affects 12 million people

JAKARTA: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the
country has reached an alarming level, with nearly 12 million
people, or six percent of the population affected.

The chairman of the Indonesian Diabetes Association, Darmono,
said poor lifestyle remained the major cause of the disease.

"Most people acquire the disease because they do not have a
healthy lifestyle, for example consuming too much fat or alcohol,
not exercising and taking drugs containing steroids," Darmono
said while installing a new board of executives for the
organization's Banten chapter.

Of the nearly 12 million DM sufferers, 30 percent have lost
their eyesight and 10 percent have had their legs amputated
because of infection. The disease also adversely affects the
heart and kidney and can cause stroke. -- Antara