Malaysian Diabetes Association urges promotion of school sport to help fight diabetes

The Malaysian Diabetes Association (MDA) is urging Malaysian schools to provide more sporting activities in order to spur students to lead a healthier lifestyle.

MDA President Professor Datuk Dr Ikram Shah Ismail stated "they should have more of such activities and urge children to stay back for them.

Speaking at events marking recent World Diabetes Day events in Kuala Lumpur, Professor Ikram stated "otherwise, these students will just return home to their rooms and switch on their computers to play games."

Professor Ikram explained that he had encountered patients as young as 15 diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, adding that diabetes was no longer an "old man's disease" as it was also afflicting people in their teens.

He continued "once diagnosed, (people) can only control the disease with medication.

"Adopting a healthy lifestyle such as exercising is an easy and cheap way to prevent diabetes from striking at an early age."

Dr Ikram said it was regrettable that most people were aware of the disease but doing nothing to prevent it, concluding "the number of diabetic patients is increasing alarmingly each year.

"There's a 90% possibility of getting it if they don't lead a healthier lifestyle," adding that having a parent with diabetes "should be an alarm itself to take care of your own health".

"It's no longer an option but a must if one wants to live longer."