It’s not normal for so many of us to be diabetic

MALAYSIA is once again at the top of a list no country wants to lead – the one for the number of diabetics.

We’re top in South-East Asia because one in five Malaysian adults has this disease, with many more on the edge and not even aware of it.

What was once considered a senior or middle-aged problem is now emerging in people in their 20s. Even some teenagers are showing early signs of the disease. This is alarming.

The worry is that Malaysians are treating a major health crisis as if it is just routine, because the rise has been gradual and familiar.

How many times have we discussed the seriousness of this issue over the years?

Yet we are not serious about changing our habits. We still consume too much sugar. We sit too much. We do not move enough.

We cannot allow our kids to grow up with these same habits or they will face a similar fate earlier.

As such, schools can play a role in shaping basic habits that can last a lifetime.

This can be achieved through daily activities, healthier meals, reduced sugar consumption on school grounds, and simple lessons on how the body works.

These efforts can help build a culture from the ground up.

Parents must also take a role in educating their children about the amount of sugar they consume. They have to be honest about these facts.

Statistics show many young Malaysians are already living with early signs of diabetes but don’t know it.

According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, 84% of young Malaysians aged 18 to 29 who have diabetes are unaware of their health status – so when the diagnosis finally comes, the damage is already done.

We’ve had public campaigns before, of course, but it seems like the message fades away the moment the posters are taken down.

We need a greater national push to convey the message to every home, office, campus, school, and classroom.

The message must be simple, loud, and clear: Check your blood sugar levels, move your body, and watch what you eat and drink.

On top of getting the message across, we must regulate sugar more strictly: Better labelling, stronger rules and taxes on drinks with high sugar content, and limits on junk food advertising can help shift public behaviour towards diabetes prevention.

These steps are not meant to take away choices, but to make healthier choices easier.

After all, the rise of diabetes among young Malaysians is not accidental. It’s by choice – the choice not to regulate sugar and food intake, the choice not to exercise, the choice to ignore the warning signs.

Ignoring this will see the next generation growing sicker and having to pay much more for healthcare.

Let’s act now to shape a better future.

There is no reason for a nation that leads the region in diabetes to pretend this status is normal.

We have to treat this like a crisis and start early to protect our kids from inheriting this disease.