Act Fast Before It Is Too Late

July 21, 2010 16:09 PM



By Melati Mohd Ariff

The recent sugar shortage and the hike in its retail price leaves many questions unanswered. What is so great about sugar to the extent it prompts the so called wise consumers to behave like ants each time there is a run for sugar?

This three series article highlights the views on sugar. This is the second of the three series.

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- Zairul (not his real name) is in his late twenties. His favourite game is football but that is in the past. From being a football player he has been reduced now to a mere spectator.

His once stout body has weakened, all because of the dreadful disease, diabetes that has wrecked his youth.

Still this young man should be thankful because his kidneys are not badly affected. Nevertheless, he has to strictly follow the doctor's prescription besides keeping an active lifestyle.

When the doctor confirmed he is a diabetic, Zairul recalled his mother's repeated plea to go easy on carbonated drinks.

A bottle of such drinks is said to contain between 11 and 12 teaspoons of sugar!

By right Zairul should have been extra careful in his sugar consumption as his own father breathed his last due to diabetes.

HEREDITARY FACTORS

If you have the genes for diabetes, taking sugar, putting on weight, and sedentary lifestyle encourages diabetes to appear earlier in life.

There may not be anyone in the family with diabetes but this does not mean there is no diabetic genes in the family, said Prof Datuk Dr Ikram Shah Ismail, President of Malaysian Diabetes Association (MDA).

The trend now show teenagers developing the adult form or Type 2 diabetes (either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin).

"It is probably that the earlier generation had a healthier lifestyle so that the diabetes did not appear in their lifetime, but would have been present had they lived longer.

"In our generation, diabetes appears much earlier because of our unhealthy lifestyle," he said.

GETTING WORSE

Speaking further on diabetes, Dr Ikram who is also the dean for University of Malaya's Medical Faculty said that the situation is getting from bad to worse.

Dr Ikram pointed out in the mortality and morbidity survey carried out every 10 years by the Ministry of Health, the diabetes prevalence increased from 6.3 per cent in 1986 to 8.2 per cent in 1996.

"At that time, we predicted that the prevalence would exceed 10 per cent by 2020, the year when we are supposed to achieve developed nation status. Unfortunately in the survey done in 2006, we have already achieved 14.9 per cent. As far as diabetes is concerned we have surpassed the target of a developed nation 15 years ahead of time," said Dr Ikram.

What is more worrying is that 5.4 per cent of the people do not know that they have diabetes.

He pointed out that not only the prevalence has been increasing rapidly, the level of control is very poor.

"More than 70 per cent of the people with diabetes have poor control over the condition, that further leads to other complications including heart disease and strokes," he added.

THE SUGAR EFFECT

Dr Ikram who is also the director of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) cautioned Malaysians on excessive sugar consumption.

According to him, certain parties have equated sugar to poison simply because of the effects it has on the body.

"Many studies in the last 20 years have conclusively shown that the damage to our body from diabetes is a direct effect of sugar in our blood.

"This includes damage to blood vessels in our eyes, kidney, heart, brain etc," he explained.

Dr Ikram said the studies have also found that if we reduce the blood sugar level to normal, we can avoid all these complications of diabetes.

Thus, he said having high blood sugar damages our body.

MORE DANGER

Taking excessive refined sugar is dangerous to our body especially to people with diabetes, said Dr Ikram.

He explained that people with diabetes do not have enough insulin, and cannot handle sugar very well.

"After refined sugar is consumed, the blood sugar level goes up very high and very quickly, and it takes a long time to return to normal.

"While the sugar level is high, it damages the body. That is why people with diabetes are advised to avoid refined sugar. Malaysians simply consume too much sugar," he said.

Sugar is present in drinks like 'teh tarik', coffee and others. In addition, sugar is present in 'kuih' and cakes.

EDUCATION IS VITAL

He admitted that it is difficult to control sugar consumption as it is linked to culture and habit.

"Children are often rewarded for their good behaviour with sweets," he pointed out.

The Government, he said, tried to control smoking by increasing the tax on cigarettes but if it does the same for sugar, there would be a political backlash.

Hence it is very important that the public be continuously educated on the dangers of consuming too much sugar and fatty foods.

"That is where non government organisations like the Malaysian Diabetes Association can play its role.

"Our association has membership all over the country and is in a better position to reach out to the members nationwide," said Dr Ikram.

NUTRITION EXPERTS

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has announced recently the deployment of 300 nutrition experts at government health clinics.

Their mission is to provide counseling to about 43 per cent of the population who suffer from obesity.

Initially 51 nutrition experts would be placed at selected health clinics including the 1Malaysia clinics this year.

Some claim overeating particularly foods that contain high calories, fats and sugar leads to overweight and obesity!

All these contribute to chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure and other health problems.

For this reason, think deeply. Do you want to continue with "live to eat" or "eat to live"! The choice is actually in your own hands. If you simply ignore your health, it is you own body that will suffer the full consequences, no one else!

-- BERNAMA