Diabetes Treatment Cost in Malaysia 2019

Diabetes is a major health problem among Malaysians.

The biggest issue with diabetes is that not only will it take a slow but sure toll on your health, it does the same for your finances too.

Here are some of the costs you need to consider should you be diagnosed with diabetes.

diabetes treatment cost malaysia
Image credit: imoney.my

Diabetic treatment in the hospital

Even though your condition can be controlled on your own with medication, there’s always the chance of you having to be hospitalised due to issues such as hyperglycemia, where your blood sugar level increases to dangerous levels that require further monitoring and increases in insulin dosages. Hyperglycemia would require not only medical personnel to watch over your condition, but would also require you to consult with specialists as well to check on your diet and exercise regime. The cost of a hospital admission in a private hospital will obviously be much more than the public hospitals.
The real danger of diabetes is not the disease itself but the risk of getting major complications like heart diseases, kidney disease or even stroke (paralysis due to the blockade of major blood vessel/s in the brain). A major stroke or a heart attack could be fatal and a kidney failure would require kidney dialysis on a regular basis.

Diabetes treatment is a costly affair in Malaysia

A patient who wants to be known only as Dolah, 54, said it costs him RM2,000 a month to treat his diabetes, hypertension, nerves, high cholesterol and gout.

He takes nine-and-a-half pills every morning, three in the afternoon and seven at night.

Dolah was diagnosed with Type II diabetes more than 20 years ago and started insulin jabs six years ago.

“The treatments are so costly and I thank my company for footing the bill. I really don’t know how I can afford them once I retire,” said Dolah.

Due to his diabetes, Dolah has to get his blood tested every month, visit a kidney specialist once every three months, an eye specialist once every four months and a physician once every five months.

“If left untreated, the complications of diabetes are costly and pose a burden to the individual and the health system,” Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said.

As many as 1.5 million diabetic patients received treatment in health facilities and the cost of uncomplicated treatment is RM3bil to RM4bil a year, he said in an interview.

Dr Subramaniam said 30,000 people in Malaysia suffered from kidney failure and half of them undergo dialysis.

“Most of those undergoing dialysis are diabetic,” he said.

In the eye ward too, many receiving cataract and laser treatments were diabetic patients, likewise at the orthopaedic ward, many amputations were caused by uncontrolled diabetes, he said.

“If their kidneys fail and they need to undergo dialysis 12 times a month at RM150 per session, it is costly to the individual as well as the Government and NGOs that provide subsidies,” he said.

“What about the loss of income? You cannot go to work three times a week especially if you are self-employed.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/11/14/treating-diabetes-a-costly-affair-govt-and-individuals-need-to-take-steps-to-prevent-the-epidemic/
Prevention is better than cure.
Secondary prevention in diabetes is about trying to prevent it from getting worse in order to avoid major complications i.e. kidney failure, heart attack, stroke etc. According to a study by Assoc. Prof. Hamdy and his team did about 15 years ago showed that losing about 7% of body weight for those who are obese and experiencing insulin resistance, would increase their insulin sensitivity by 56.8%.

diabetes vicious cycle


The study published in the journal Diabetes Care in 2003, followed the 24 participants through a six-month programme combining a low-calorie diet and moderate physical activity.

“I tell you, I was shocked when we did that study,” he says.

“I said, you know, if they become (insulin) sensitive again, those people can be cured. This means diabetes can be reversed.

“But then the problem is, how can we do it?”

He says that instead of the usual method of continually adding medications to help control blood glucose levels, a new philosophy for treatment is needed.

“The new philosophy is to target body weight, to target the waistline – how do we help people to lose weight, to decrease their waistline?”

To this end, he created a weight loss programme called Why WAIT (Weight Achievement and Intensive Treatment).

This 12-week programme revolves around dietary modification that includes low-calorie meal plans and replacing meals with diabetes-specific nutrition formulas, an individualised exercise plan that starts with 20 minutes three to four days a week and gradually increases to 60 minutes five to six days a week, and weekly group behavioural support sessions conducted by a clinical psychologist or behavioural therapist.

“I was shocked by the first results,” he says. “But over time, the results were repeated again and again.”

To date, 55 groups have gone through the programme, and he says that they have lost 16,000 pounds (7,257kg) in total.

“I think this is the best way to approach the disease: to tell your patients exactly what to do,” he says.

Read more at https://www.star2.com/health/2018/03/28/there-might-be-a-cure-for-diabetes/

Related:

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Zinc Gluconate vs Zinc Picolinate: What's the Difference?

NAC vs NAD vs NR vs NMN vs Niacin: What Are the Differences?

10 Best NMN Supplements (2024 Review)

Dr. Zelenko's Z-Stack Vitamin Cocktail: Review 2024

18 Best Supplements to Reduce Cytokine Storm: Advanced Guide (2023 Review)

Best Cancer Centers in Malaysia - 2024

6 Best EECP Centres in Malaysia 2023: Price and Review

Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy and Vitamin D 1 25 Dihydroxy: What's the Difference?

Best Memory Enhancing Supplements for Seniors 2024

Glutathione vs NAC: What's the Difference? (2024)