Health | World Diabetes Day marked in town

Today is World Diabetes Day and Macau-based experts say that local residents are being diagnosed as diabetic at younger ages. They add that as many as 40,000 Macau residents have diabetes. Type two diabetes is caused by obesity and is one of the common chronic diseases in Macau. The youngest diabetic in Macau is only 12 years old.

The Health Bureau and the Macau Committee on Chronic Diseases (CPLD) held a “Celebrating World Diabetes Day – Cycling Walk ” at the cycling track at the Taipa Waterfront Recreation Area at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

As of last year there were 415 million people with diabetes worldwide and it has been predicted that there will be an increase to 642 million by 2040. Although the number of diabetics is increasing, it can still be prevented by the adoption of a healthy lifestyle and participating in regular physical activity, say experts.

Through their efforts, the Health Bureau and CPLD would like to encourage Macau residents to plan a regular sports timetable and do a mild form of exercise  for 30 minutes every day.

The expert, who works at Centro Hospitalar Conde de Sao Januario, said that medicine is just one small part of the treatment and he advises Macau residents to be mindful of their dietary habits.