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| Malaysians need to cut down on their sugar intake. Photo: Shutterstock |
Malaysians are becoming “sweet-er” by the day, with the incidence of type 2 diabetes on the rise.
One in six Malaysians have diabetes, and according to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015, 17.5% of the population aged 18 and above have the disease, while an estimated 1.7 million are living with undiagnosed diabetes.
Although more common in adults, diabetes is increasingly affecting children as the incidence of childhood obesity escalates.
Uncontrolled blood glucose levels leads to cardiovascular disease (CVD), blindness and renal, as well as neurological, complications.
Worldwide, every seven seconds, someone dies of diabetes.
“CVD is the most serious complication from diabetes as two-thirds of patients die from heart attack and stroke, while one-third die from kidney disease and infection from amputation.
“If a person gets diabetes before 50, it shaves 10 years off his or her life, so they end up dying prematurely.
“A female diabetic also has a 50% higher risk of a stroke compared to a non-diabetic female.
Prof Chan says, ‘Diabetics treat their condition like second class citizens.’ Photo: Filepic
“Unfortunately, many diabetics have poor control of their condition, often thinking that the drugs will damage their organs.
“Many patients tell me they don’t care about their sugar level, but they worry about their heart. I tell them uncontrolled sugar levels are causing their heart problems. Reducing CVD risk is a major focus of diabetic management,” says consultant endocrinologist Prof Dr Chan Siew Pheng.
In addition to the many anti-diabetic drugs available, there is now a new drug to treat diabetes, which also improves heart health.
Empagliflozin is a prescription once-daily oral medicine, used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes. The drug is now available in Malaysia.
As a highly selective sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, the drug targets glucose directly. It also reduces reabsorption of glucose into the bloodstream, allowing excess glucose to pass through the urine, leading to urinary glucose excretion.
Besides improving sugar levels, it also helps sufferers shed weight and lower high blood pressure.
Prof Chan says, “In other medications, sugar is pushed into the cells, which results in weight gain, but with empagliflozin, it is brought out through the urine. Weight loss occurs in the first six months before it stabilises.”
Fellow consultant endocrinologist Dr Zanariah Hussein adds, “Recent trial outcomes have shown positive effects of empagliflozin in reducing cardiovascular risk and death.
Dr Zanariah says complications arising from diabetes are increasing among Malaysians. Photo: Filepic
“It may contribute to lower hospitalisation for heart failure.
“Diabetes is a debilitating disease, with about 75% of deaths in diabetic patients caused by cardiovascular disease. Hence, there is a need to address the potential risk in diabetics when it comes to diabetes-related complications.”
Unfortunately, Dr Zanariah says that due to poor control and the lackadaisical attitude among patients, complications arising from diabetes are increasing.
Clinical studies show that the medication has additional benefits such as helping patients achieve a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C) of less than 7% and reducing their fasting blood sugar levels by an average of 19 or 25 points (mg/dL).
Empagliflozin can be used alone or added to existing treatment regimens to control blood sugar levels in the overall management of diabetes. The most common side effects are urinary tract infections and female genital infections, which are easily treated.
http://www.star2.com/health/wellness/2016/06/05/new-diabetic-drug-improves-heart-health/