DH interest public to embrace healthy way of lives to avoid diabetes in assistance of World Diabetes Day
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The Department of Health (DH) today (November 14) advised members of the general public to embrace healthy way of lives in assistance of World Diabetes Day. The danger of establishing diabetes mellitus (diabetes) and associated issues can be successfully lowered through “early prevention, early detection and early treatment”The Government promotes a healthy way of life incorporating healthy consuming, minimizing fat, salt and sugar consumption, being physically active, and avoiding cigarette smoking and alcohol intake through a life-course technique. The Government is actively promoting the Chronic Disease Co-Care (CDCC) Pilot Scheme to handle persistent illness. The CDCC Pilot Scheme uses practical screening services for diabetes and high blood pressure, in addition to blood lipid screening, to accomplish complete protection of the “three highs”
“Diabetes is a common chronic condition marked by high levels of glucose in the blood, and improper diabetic control may result in serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and blindness. Globally, one in nine adults has diabetes. In Hong Kong, the Population Health Survey 2020-22 conducted by the DH observed that 8.5 per cent of non-institutionalised persons aged 15 to 84 had diabetes or raised blood glucose, which is at a level similar to the 8.4 per cent recorded in 2014-15. The Survey also showed that approximately one in every three persons with diabetes is not aware that he/she is living with the condition. In 2024, there were 442 (provisional figure) registered deaths attributed to diabetes with a crude death rate of 5.9 per 100 000 population (provisional figure),” stated the Controller of the Centre for Health Protection of the DH, Dr Edwin Tsui.
The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) promotes the Life Course Preventive Care Plan through District Health Centres/District Health Centre Expresses (jointly described as DHCs) and family practitioner, in order to boost public awareness of self-health management and illness avoidance. The Government introduced the three-year CDCC Pilot Scheme in 2023, subsidising Hong Kong citizens aged 45 and above without any recognized case history of diabetes or high blood pressure to be coupled with family practitioner for diabetes and high blood pressure screening services in the personal health care market. In March this year, the CDCC Pilot Scheme was broadened to cover blood lipid screening. Individuals detected with prediabetes, diabetes, high blood pressure or hyperlipidaemia after screening can continue to the treatment stage and will be subsidised by the Government to continue their treatment with a family practitioner of their option and, based on their health conditions, will be supplied with recommended medication, a devoted nurse center and allied health services. Since October 15 this year, over 160 000 members of the general public have actually registered in the Scheme. Around 100 400 individuals (i.e. about 60 percent) have actually finished the screenings, and around 40 500 individuals (i.e. about 40 percent) have actually continued to the treatment stage, consisting of individuals who have actually been identified with prediabetes (i.e. blood sugar level varying from 6.0 to 6.4 percent for glycated haemoglobin or a fasting plasma glucose level of 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L.), diabetes, high blood pressure or dyslipidaemia. In establishing the method to concentrate on taking care of the impoverished group through a Family Medicine service design, the PHC Commission has actually been broadening the CDCC Pilot Scheme to designated Hospital Authority Family Medicine Clinics and Family Medicine Integrated Centres in stages because end-March this year, offering impoverished groups with high blood pressure, high blood sugar and hyperlipidaemia screenings, in addition to persistent illness management services. More information of the CDCC Pilot Scheme can be discovered on the devoted site.
Amongst the primary kinds of diabetes (type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes), type 2 diabetes is the most typical type, that makes up more than 95 percent of all diabetes cases. Secret aspects that add to establishing type 2 diabetes consist of being obese or overweight, not getting sufficient workout and genes.
“Regardless of genetic risk, lifestyle changes are the best way to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Members of the public are urged to reach and keep a healthy body weight, eat a healthy diet and limit sugar and saturated fat intake, refrain from alcohol drinking, and avoid smoking. Moreover, the public should stay physically active with at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or an equivalent amount and intensity of physical activity throughout the week. Walking as a way of conducting physical activity can also guard against various chronic diseases and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes,” stated Dr Tsui.
To raise public awareness of the avoidance of diabetes and other non-communicable illness, the Government will continue arranging health advertising projects to boost individuals’s health literacy about the value of healthy living, allowing individuals at threat to have routine measurements of blood sugar. The Government will likewise operate in close collaboration with neighborhood partners to promote a health-enhancing environment.
To understand more about the Government’s efforts and actions to avoid and manage non-communicable illness consisting of diabetes, please check out the Change for Health site of the DH.