Diabetes on the rise in Cambodia – Khmer Times

A workshop on the management of type 2 diabetes held on Saturday by the Cambodian Diabetes and Endocrinologists Association in collaboration with the Serve International Representative Office discussed ways to manage the disease but also revealed some disturbing figures on the increasing number of diabetics in the Kingdom.

President of the Cambodian Diabetes and Endocrinologists Association, citing figures from the International Diabetes Federation presented at the seminar that more than 600,000 people in Cambodia are currently living with diabetes and another 600,000 are expected to develop the disease.

The workshop on the management of type 2 diabetes was held at the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra with many doctors and other medical specialists in attendance.

Koy Vanny, President of the Cambodian Diabetes and Endocrinologists Association, said that by 2021, no less than 530 million people are living with diabetes worldwide. It is projected that by 2045, more than 700 million people will develop diabetes globally.

He said the number of Cambodians that could develop diabetes is about half a million, but this number could be pushed to as high as two million.

Some Cambodian diabetics live with the disease without realising it, he said. Some patients have been diagnosed with the disease and are being treated, but have not been able to control their blood sugar well and face many complications.

Hyperglycemia can easily kill people, especially putting people at high risk for cardiovascular disease, which increases the risk of heart attack and can affect human limbs, he said.

Dr Quach Mengly, a public health specialist, said that many Cambodians are diagnosed with diabetes and those who are pre-diabetic is a result of lifestyle issues such as eating too much fatty, salty and sweet food. Eating too much, drinking alcohol and not exercising are factors leading to diabetes.

The risks of developing diabetes are high, and many people between the ages of 35 and 40 are diagnosed with diabetes, he said.

The big problem is that Cambodians develop diabetes by not taking any precautions to avoid diabetes.

Dr Mengly drew attention to the problem by reminding doctors and the public to be aware of how diabetes develops and take precautions to avoid the disease such as diet, exercise, reduce alcohol consumption and eat less sweet and salty food.

Without education and guidance on these issues, people will inevitably develop diabetes because it is a worrying risk and people will lose a lot of money on treatment when they get diabetes, he said.

People with diabetes, most of whom are diagnosed, die of a heart attack, said Dr Mengly.

Another risk factor for diabetics is not taking the right amount of medication. This can lead to nerve damage, damage to the ankle and then lead to ulcers that require amputation.

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Diabetes on the rise in Cambodia - Khmer Times