BANGKOK, NOV 19 – Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health is urging people to eat healthily and exercise regularly to minimize the risk of diabetes, as the deadly disease affects more than 6.5 million Thais, or about a tenth of Thailand’s population.
Speaking on the recent World Diabetes Day, the Minister of Health, Somsak Thepsutin said that more than 90% of diabetes patients in Thailand are type 2, and about 40% do not know that they have diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes sugar (glucose) levels in the blood to become too high.
It can cause symptoms such as excessive thirst, need to urinate and tiredness, but most sufferers have no symptoms.
“To stay safe from the growing threat of diabetes, Thai people are advised to maintain healthier behaviors. One of the easiest ways is to calculate the amount of carbohydrates in daily food to reduce the risk of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases,” he said.
Somsak added that the health ministry has directed a network of volunteers to the village to teach local residents the practice of counting carbohydrates, as well as encouraging them to eat a variety of foods with a preference for low-sugar vegetables and fruits and to exercise regularly.
The director general of the Department of Disease Control (DDC), Dr Panumas Yanwetsakul said this year, the International Diabetes Federation has set the theme of World Diabetes Day as Diabetes and Wellnessby focusing on good quality of life and happiness by managing the physical, mental and social health of diabetic patients.
“Diabetes affects the quality of life of patients physically, mentally and socially because they face challenges in managing self-care to maintain proper blood sugar levels,” said Panumas.
“They must also manage complications such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy and foot ulcers. This condition can cause an infection that may be severe enough to require amputation,” he said.
Panumas also advises them to eat healthy food, avoid salty and oily food, and avoid smoking and alcohol in addition to doing physical activity more often. The recommended amount of exercise is at least 30 minutes a day or 150 minutes a week.
In addition, they must also cultivate good mental well-being by adopting a positive outlook and reducing stress and anxiety from the constant need for self-care, he added. – ANN/The Nation
