Sunway Healthcare Group (SHG) kickstarted their KNOW Diabetes campaign with a nationwide survey last month that looks to gain insights in restricting the rising prevalence of the major noncommunicable disease – a surge which has seen Malaysia record the highest rate of diabetes in the Western Pacific region and one of the highest in the world.

Held in conjunction with World Diabetes Day 2024, KNOW Diabetes and its “Prevention is Power” message looks to reach out to communities, raise awareness and educate Malaysians on the impact of the disease. The campaign by one of ASEAN’s leading integrated private healthcare providers focuses primarily on food education, and how simple dietary adjustments with an emphasis on nutritious food significantly reduces the risk of diabetes.

Eating healthy: the ups and downs SHG’s survey of more than 1,000 individuals, carried out by cilisos.my, revealed that while 80% of respondents were worried about developing diabetes, they also pointed to social anxiety – where they consumed meals that differed from their social circle, and other psychosocial factors such as a lack of time and long work hours, all which act as major hindrances to healthy eating.

Respondents in general also perceived healthy food as expensive and inaccessible, with 47% viewing healthy food as “T201 food” and 59% saying that such food is not easily found at local restaurants and eateries. Additionally, 52% believed home-cooked food is healthy.

Economic factors and the assumption that healthy food is expensive were cited as the biggest hindrances for 54% of respondents for not eating healthily, followed by a lack of time for 50% due to individual circumstances and work, both which posed a challenge for them to cook.

On the upside, peer pressure could be key to making Malaysians more mindful. Nearly 40% of respondents said they would cut their sugar intake together with their partner or significant other if he or she decided to take up a no-sugar diet. More encouragingly, 56% said they would start taking exercise and workouts seriously if their colleagues visited the gym daily after work.

SHG President Dato’ Lau Beng Long said diabetes and its complications have not only affected thousands of Malaysians and severely impacted their health, quality of life and relationships, but also posed a significant burden on public health and socioeconomic development.

“We believe that information and knowledge are key to preventing more individuals falling victim to this disease, which is why KNOW Diabetes and our ‘Prevention is Power’ message sets out to educate the public on one of its primary factors – the food we eat and how it can greatly increase or reduce the risks of developing diabetes,” he said. “We also hope that our survey data will be able to better inform our efforts to curb this epidemic.

“SHG aspires to keep to our commitment to safeguard the health and wellbeing of all Malaysians as well as adhere to the World Health Organization’s 2024 ‘Empowering Global Health’ theme. We aim to achieve these by amplifying our position as a group that gives back to the community through the facilitation of good health, and by raising awareness and enlightening the public on the dangers of diabetes.”

1T20 refers to the top 20% of household income earners in Malaysia KNOW Diabetes’ holistic programme incorporates on-ground activations at all SHG’s hospitals, media engagements and social media content. There’s also a risk calculator at https://diabetes.sunwaymedical.com/ that enables individuals to discover their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in the next five years. In addition to developing social media contests to encourage Malaysians to cook healthy, budget-friendly meals, SHG will share practical tips that promote healthy eating and offer strategies on how proper childhood nutrition shapes long-term outcomes that reduce the risk of the disease.

The month-long campaign, from 1 to 30 November 2024, aligns with the World Health Organization’s overarching theme, which not only centres on individual health but the importance of communities working together to combat diabetes.

KNOW Diabetes comes at a time when statistics show an alarming rise in the disease over the years. According to the Ministry of Health’s National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023, 15.6% or one in six adults have diabetes, with 84% of young adults aged 18 to 29 unaware of the fact. It is expected that seven million adults aged 18 and older will be either prediabetic or diabetic by next year.

The previous NHMS revealed that the prevalence of diabetes rose from 11.2% in 2011 to 13.4% in 2015 and 18.3% in 2019, a 68.3% increase in total.