HPA: 7,000 people in the Maldives managing Type 2 diabetes

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that 7,000 people in the Maldives are managing Type 2 diabetes, according to the latest statistics compiled from hospitals across the country. In a statement issued in connection with World Diabetes Day, aimed at increasing general awareness on staying safe, the HPA said that according to information compiled up to the 30th of last month, 300 patients are managing Type 1 diabetes while 7,000 patients are managing Type 2 diabetes. The agency also said that due to elevated sugar during pregnancy, approximately 250 people each year are seeking treatment. The HPA noted that approximately 85 percent of the people who die each year in the Maldives die from non-communicable diseases, and among them, the third most common cause of death is diabetes. According to the findings of the STEPS Survey, the habit of smoking, one of the main causes contributing to non-communicable diseases, stands at 35.6 percent among men and 7.6 percent among women, and it has been noted that some children begin smoking at as young as 8 years of age. Diabetes is a health issue that occurs when the amount of sugar in the blood exceeds the level at which it should be. In addition to Type 1 diabetes, which is caused by the body not producing insulin, the most commonly seen is Type 2 diabetes, a condition that occurs even though the body produces insulin but, due to obesity and reduced physical activity, the body does not take in the insulin it needs in the required manner. Hereditary factors and elevated sugar during pregnancy are also matters that contribute to the disease. The HPA requests eating a balanced diet, paying attention to meal times, exercising regularly and maintaining weight at an appropriate level in order to stay safe from the disease and to control it. The agency also said it is important not to smoke, and if a sign of the disease is seen or if the disease is present in the family, to get tested early, and for those seeking treatment to monitor regularly in accordance with the doctor's advice. Under the "National Multisectoral Action Plan 2023-2031" established to control non-communicable diseases in the Maldives, work is being strengthened to expand primary health care services and to conduct early screening. World Diabetes Day is marked on the 14th of November every year, a practice that began in 1991 jointly by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization (WHO). The main purpose of this day is to raise public awareness regarding protection from diabetes, recognizing the signs of the disease, and controlling the disease through healthy diet and exercise.