Productive age group dominates diabetes cases in Banten
The Banten Provincial Health Office (Dinkes) has recorded that diabetes mellitus sufferers in the region are no longer dominated by the elderly group, but rather by the productive age group, with total cases reaching 94,607.
Head of Banten Provincial Health Office Ati Pramudji Astuti in Serang on Thursday revealed that the dominance of the productive age group in diabetes cases, particularly type 2, is closely linked to lifestyle shifts.
“What must be of concern is diet and physical activity. Currently, many children and adolescents consume high-sugar foods and drinks, while their physical activity is increasingly reduced,” Ati explained.
She elaborated that the main triggering factors for the soaring number of type 2 diabetes sufferers are minimal physical activity, high daily sugar intake, obesity, irregular sleep patterns, and genetic factors. This condition causes the body to experience insulin resistance or the body’s inability to respond to insulin optimally.
“Do not wait until you fall ill. Get families accustomed to implementing a healthy lifestyle, reduce excess sugar, exercise diligently, and undergo regular health checks,” she stressed.
The Banten Provincial Health Office is currently also intensifying health education and early detection programmes for non-communicable diseases, both in schools and the wider community.
“The role of the family is very important. Children will find it easier to adopt a healthy lifestyle if all family members also consistently practise it,” she said.
Meanwhile, the age group above 60 years or the elderly recorded 22,905 cases.
A finding that also drew attention is the emergence of cases in the child age group, namely 1,651 cases (ages 6-14 years), 241 cases (ages 1-5 years), and even one case detected in an infant under one year of age.
Regarding regional distribution, Tangerang Regency ranked first with the highest number of sufferers at 25,155 cases.
The next position is occupied by South Tangerang City with 20,787 cases, Lebak Regency with 20,226 cases, and Tangerang City with 19,450 cases. Followed successively by Cilegon City with 3,440 cases, Pandeglang Regency with 2,550 cases, Serang Regency with 1,694 cases, and Serang City with 1,305 cases.