Proposals from public to be weaved into plan to fight diabetes
SINGAPORE — Making healthy food and drink options more easily available, expanding fitness programmes in the community to make exercise more accessible and bringing diabetes screening to more workplaces and community venues.
These were some of the suggestions made by members of the public who have taken part so far in the six-month public engagement exercise in the war on diabetes.
And the Health Ministry will work some of these suggestions into its multi-year Diabetes Action Plan, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said yesterday as he gave this update on the exercise launched in September.
More than 1,600 responses have been gathered through eight roadshows and dialogues sessions.
But a current concern remains: Although nine in 10 Singaporeans know how serious a condition diabetes is and that it is preventable, the perceived risk of getting it is low.
Mr Gan highlighted this from the Health Promotion Board’s Health Behaviour Surveillance of Singapore 2016. Also, only four in 10 adult Singaporeans identified physical activity as a factor in preventing diabetes.
“There is therefore room to educate Singaporeans further about the risk of developing diabetes,” Mr Gan said at the opening ceremony of World Diabetes Day. And so the government will be rolling out a campaign to nudge people towards making healthier choices in diet and exercise.
This will include commercials in four languages, and the campaign will run from now until March on various media platforms including television, online and outdoor installations. It highlights everyday choices that can be made, such as choosing water over sweetened beverages and having more fruits and vegetables instead of unhealthy snacks.
“People think that you’ll only get it when you get older because that’s what my parents and grandparents had,” said World Diabetes Day organising chairman Kevin Tan, who noted that more younger people are getting diabetes nowadays.
“(People) need to go for regular blood sugar checks before they find out they have diabetes. They feel healthy but actually, diabetes is brewing in them and sugars are rising and they won’t know until they go for a blood sugar check.” The diabetes taskforce is also exploring ways to optimise diabetes management and care, and to prevent or slow down progression to diabetes-related complications.
“This includes anchoring the care of diabetic patients with their regular family doctor within the community. The family doctor can provide good care for the diabetic patient, as well as their family members who may be at risk of developing diabetes,” said Mr Gan. CHANNEL NEWSASIA
