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)