Introduction
1.1 Diabetes and Obesity Worldwide
IDF Diabetes Atlas 5th Edition, 2013; World Health Organization, March& October 2013

1.2 Diabetes in the Western Pacific Region
Figure 1.1
Comparison of prevalence and estimated diabetes (adjusted to world population) among adults 20-79 years for the years 2011 and 2030
In 2012, International Diabetes Foundation reported that Malaysia had
1.3 Current Diabetes in Malaysia
”Malaysia is the number one country in South East Asia for having the highest number of diabetics”*15
Figure 1.2
Comparison of prevalence for diabetes above 18 and 30 year old in Malaysia across the years from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS IV)
- 2006 1.5 million people suffering from diabetes (NHMS III)*1
- 2011 2X increase from 1.5million to 2.6 million of diabetics. All in the span of 5 years from 2006 (NHMS IV).*1,5,12
About 2 million people in Malaysia with high blood sugar are still undiagnosed with diabetes.*1,12- Worldwide, World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 3.4 million4 people died from consequences of high fasting blood sugar.*20
- Many are unaware that they have diabetes until 7 or 10 years later, as there are no symptoms until complications develop.*1,13

1.3.1 Complications of Diabetes
[Adapted from International Diabetes Federation. 2013]4
Blindness
- 1 in 4 severe diabetic-related retina damage end up blind.*11
- Out of 13, 973 patients with diabetic retinopathy, 3, 311 suffered retinal damage and out of this, 774 with irreversible blindness.*11
Heart Attack
- Diabetics are 2 to 4X more likely to have heart disease & 5X more likely to suffer a stroke*8
Kidney Failure
- Out of the 5, 800 new kidney patients, 58% who require dialysis or kidney transplants have diabetes.*10
Amputation

1.4 Current Obesity in Malaysia
“Malaysia is the fattest country in South East Asia”*14
Figure 1.3
Comparison of prevalence for obesity; overweight and obese individuals above 18 years old in Malaysia across the years from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS)
- 8.5 million Malaysians are suffering from the overweight problem while approximately 50% (4.4 million) of them are obese*9
- Obesity is an important underlying factor for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).*16
- Obese subjects have a 2 to 3X increased risk of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance.*18
- Diet and physical activity is the first line of prevention in the management of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes (T2DM) and obesity.*7
Lifestyle modification vs. Drug intervention
Diet and physical activity | Metformin (drug) |
risk of diabetes by 58%*6,17 |
risk of diabetes by 31%*6 |