GEORGE TOWN: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) will be introduced as a complementary approach to conventional diabetes treatment at a public seminar organised by the Diabetic Society of Penang for the first time.
The seminar, themed "Understanding Diabetes from a Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective", will be held at Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang in Jalan Utama on Nov 14, to mark World Diabetes Day.
Society president Ronnie Teoh said the initiative aimed to provide a more integrated perspective on diabetes management.
"Every time we celebrate World Diabetes Day, the focus has been on conventional medicine.
"This time, we want to introduce TCM to complement conventional treatment so that people can have a more integrated perspective on managing diabetes," he said at a press conference on Friday (Nov 6).
Teoh stressed that TCM should not replace evidence-based medical treatment or prescribed medication.
"We always respect evidence-based medicine. TCM is supposed to be complementary, and we hope both approaches can work together to achieve better results," he said.
Teoh said the society, established in 1980 by the Penang Medical Practitioners Society, was Malaysia's first diabetes organisation.
He said it was run by laypeople, with medical professionals serving as advisers and trustees.
"Our approach is people helping people. We share our experiences with the diabetic community on how to control and manage diabetes without all the medical jargon," he said.
Teoh claimed that about three million Malaysians were living with diabetes, with another three million potentially undiagnosed.
He said early detection was crucial to preventing complications such as kidney failure, cardiovascular problems and nerve damage that could lead to amputations.
He also highlighted the financial burden of complications, particularly dialysis treatment.
"A dialysis session can cost about RM120, and patients may need treatment three times a week.
"Each session takes about four hours, excluding travelling time. This is very costly, both financially and in terms of productivity," he said.
Teoh said prevention and early intervention could reduce the burden on patients and long-term healthcare costs.
Society vice-president and programme organising chairman Lim Thoon Deong said this year's programme would emphasise early detection and prevention.
"Diabetes is a silent disease. Many people do not realise they have it until complications develop.
"Early detection is very important because diabetes needs to be properly managed to prevent the condition from deteriorating," he said.
Lim said the programme, organised in collaboration with Body Mind Liberation, a branch of Dhamma Earth Penang, would feature a seminar and public forum by TCM practitioners Ee Hee Men and Rachel Lee.
The forum will cover TCM perspectives on the causes of diabetes, dietary changes and approaches to managing the condition.
Lee, who is also in charge of Body Mind Liberation, said the collaboration aimed to promote health education and preventive care.
"We want to share information with the public, not just through acupuncture or treatment, but also through education and preventive measures.
"We hope people will learn what they can do to lead healthier lives and reduce their risk of developing diabetes," she said.
Lim said the seminar would be conducted mainly in English, with questions also accepted in Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia.
Free TCM consultations, blood sugar tests and blood pressure checks will be available, alongside an exhibition on diabetes and its complications.
The seminar and forum will run from 2pm to 3.45pm, while free health screenings and the exhibition will take place from 3.30pm to 5pm.
The programme is open to the public, but participants are encouraged to arrive early as seating is limited.
