Warning for diabetes patients

BANDUNG: An internist called on diabetes patients here on Wednesday to be more aware of their illness and to seek proper medical treatment as soon as possible.

Dr. Sri Hartini KS. Kariadi of the University of Padjadjaran said that recent research conducted by the school of medicine of the university indicated that only 45 out of 220 diabetes patients, 20 percent, were aware of their illness and regularly saw their doctors.

The other 80 percent of the patients, being treated at the Singaparna hospital in Tasikmalaya some 100 kilometers northeast of here, initially were unaware of their illness.

Sri Hartini, who works at the Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, said that the number of diabetes patients there had increased.

"Between 70 and 100 diabetes patients go the hospital for treatment everyday," she said, adding that the hospital recorded 1,947 patients from January 1996 to July 1999.

She blamed change in life style for the increase. (25/sur)