Basic Facts on Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body produces too little or ineffective insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to change food into the energy essential for life.
When food is digested, it breaks down into a sugar called glucose, which is absorbed into the blood. In a normal person, insulin helps the blood glucose to enter the body cells, to be used for energy.
In a diabetic person with too little or ineffective insulin, the glucose cannot enter the body cells. It builds up in the blood, giving rise to a high blood glucose level which is the main sign of untreated or uncontrolled diabetes.
Diabetes in Singapore
The Ministry of Health's Healthy Lifestyle survey in 1992 showed:
- 8.6% of the adult population aged 18 years and above have diabetes mellitus
- Males are more commonly affected than females
- Prevalence rates of diabetes rises with age:
- 18 - 39 years : 2.5%
- 40 years and above : 17.9%
- The three ethnic groups have significantly different prevalence rates:
- Chinese : 8.0%
- Malays : 9.3%
- Indians : 12.7%
Essential Knowledge for Diabetics and their Care-givers
What are the
Types of Diabetes?
How to control Diabetes:
Preventing Complications: