Improving Diabetic Care in Malaysia

(image credit : The Star) By Dato’ Dr. Lee Yan San (Consultant Physician & Medical advisor to Penang Diabetic Society) Diabetes Mellitus is becoming more common and is a major cause of severe medical complications and early death. Fortunately, although diabetes cannot be cured, it can be controlled and those who are well controlled can enjoy good living and even normal life span. Here are some facts which may help to improve diabetic care in Malaysia. Regular follow up by your doctor is essential to avoid any chronic diabetic complications. I have noticed that many of those who do not have regular follow up by doctors or self treated with poor control are now under treatment for chronic complications of diabetes. Pharmacists are qualified only to explain how the drugs work and its side effects but are not qualified to advice on treatment, and should leave this to the doctors. Since Type2 diabetes is now much more common and is responsible for many chronic complications due to poor control which can be avoided, I shall stress on Type2 diabetes in this article. Some Salient Points on Diabetes Young Diabetics are usually Type 1 and those who started having Diabetes at an older age (especially after 40 years of age or so) are usually due to Type2. Management of Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 are completely different. There is urgency to treat Type 1 diabetes which requires urgent Insulin treatment to avoid having acute complications like ketoacidosis leading to death if untrea...
Source: Malaysian Medical Resources - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: - Guest - Health tips Diabetes Source Type: blogs