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