Number of diabetic patients up
Number of diabetic patients up
JAKARTA (JP): The number of Indonesian diabetics may swell to
five million by 2010, says an expert.
Askandar Tjokroprawiro, an endocrinology expert at Surabaya's
Dr. Sutomo General Hospital, was quoted by Antara as saying
yesterday that in East Java capital alone there were 45,000
diabetics.
"The number of diabetics is growing so fast that doctors need
to really monitor developments related to diabetes to enable them
to really help here while keeping up with the situation on the
disease abroad," he said.
He discussed a ten-point guide for healthy living for
diabetics, including limiting sugar use and continuing treatment.
"Limit the intake of fatty foods like sardines and broth and
alcoholic beverages because they worsen the condition," he said.
Patients must also exercise regularly and limit their
consumption of eggs, cheese, crabs, shrimps, mussels, milk and
coconut milk. They must increase their intake of vegetables and
fruits.
Other ways to deal with diabetes include maintaining a healthy
weight, not smoking, eating less salt and getting enough sleep.
These ways should be observed by everyone over 40 years.
"People with cardiovascular problems should have a medical
check-up every three or six years or even every year," he said.
Already the fourth main cause of death in many countries,
diabetes affects 135 million people worldwide and experts say the
number of sufferers is rising sharply.
An expert from the University of Helsinki, Marja-Rita
Taskinen, said last month that by 2010 there will be 240 million
diabetics, mostly in developing countries.
She cited research by Australian Professor Paul Zimmet into
non-insulin-dependent or "type two" diabetes, which affects 90
percent of sufferers and mainly hits adults.
There is no cure for diabetes -- and people who suffer from
the insulin-dependent or "type one" strain, which most commonly
starts in children and adolescents -- must inject themselves with
insulin up to four times a day to stay alive.
Scientists have found no other method of treatment in the 75
years since Canadian Leonard Thomas received the first insulin
injection. (swe)