Diabetes Terengganu: Diabetes and Health Talk

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Diabetes and Health Talk

Diabetes Malaysia Terengganu Branch had executed Diabetes and HealthTalk to the District Education Office in Kuala Terengganu on 24th June 2014 between 10 am to 1.00 pm.

The association wish to inform the public about the dangers and complications of diabetes. Many people do not realize that diabetes is a killer disease. To elaborate it, Dr Zaiha Harun, the vice chairman (she is a nephrologist), gave the talk to the interested officers.

As expected, not many participants were aware of it. According to Dr Zaiha, Malaysia is top in getting diabetes and obesity compare to Asean countries. Now diabetes not only attack those 40 year and above, but also those at younger age. This is due to many reasons such as food intake and sedentary lifestyle. She also said 50% people with diabetes were also had kidney problem. She explained the symptoms of diabetes and its complications like blindness, neuropathy, amputation, stroke etc. Excessive sugar in blood stream in the long run destroy the nerves and thus making the blood flow interrupted. Thus it leads to blindness, macro and micro vascular disease etc.

The next talk is about the healthy diet given by Madam Faizan Nor, a dietitian from Hospital Sultanah Nur Zahirah Kuala Terengganu. She gave a 2-hr briefing on healthy food, food piramid, time of eating, portion of food taken, healthy plate, carbohydrate counting and food calorie and its equivalent. She advised to take a lot of green leafy vegetables and plain water. This will help in metabolism especially those who wish to reduce weight. Never skip breakfast, lunch and dinner. In between these meals, you can have a small snek. It is important to observe meal times (7-8 am for breakfast; 12-2 pm for lunch and 6-8 pm for dinner). For diabetes, keep carbohydrate low and abstain from taking sugar. For fruits, take a small portion at a time. If possible take multiple colors as they contain different minerals and vitamin. Those taking meal replacement, make sure it is a complete diet. Be careful with the supplement pills, if you observe proper diet, you do not need the supplement as sometimes it may bring more disadvantages to your health. Drink low fat milk daily to enrich your body calcium.

In between the talk, we have conducted BMI, blood glucose and blood pressure screening among the participants. We found a few samples had diabetes and advised them to see the doctors.

The talk is interactive so that the participants can ask questions without waiting the talk ends. It is also conducted in a relax manner. Participants looked very happy to learn new information.

When the talk ended, a few officers who could not attend earlier, came in and we conducted a health screening for them. We found among the participants a few are overweight and obese. Surprisingly, there was an officer (55 years old man) who had a blood pressure 205/115. We advised him to see the doctor immediately and take his medicine promptly.

Diabetes Malaysia Terengganu branch wish to thank the DM Terengganu committee members and speakers who have passion in guiding the participants in understanding the disease and the need to practise healthy eating. Thank you Hj Wan Md Adnan (Chairman), Dr Zaiha Harun (vice chairman), Hj Wan Hassan (secretary), Hj Ahamad (treasurer), council members Ahmad Zailani, Mdm Fatimah Ismail, Mdm Roslina Che Man, nurses from ICU Mdm Rosnah Mohd Amin and Mdm Zawiah Idris for your commitment in making this event a fruitful discussion.

We hope the talk is beneficial the participants and they too will tell their families and friends on this matter.