The Invisible Challenge: How Diabetes is Reshaping the Future of Southeast Asia
1. Diabetes continues to rise
Diabetes has become one of the biggest health challenges in the world, and Southeast Asia is no exception. With a faster pace of life, changing dietary habits and a preference for sugary drinks, the number of diabetes cases in the region is increasing every year.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), more than 106.9 million adults (aged 20-79) in Southeast Asia will have diabetes in 2024. If the status quo remains unchanged, this figure could grow to about 184.5 million by 2050, an increase of about 73%.
2. Concerns behind the data
Below is an overview of the distribution of diabetes in the major countries of Southeast Asia:
| countries | Estimated adult prevalence* | Estimated number of cases in 2045 |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia 🇮🇩 | ~11.3% | ~20 million |
| Thailand 🇹🇭 | ~9.7% | ~7 million (early estimate) |
| Malaysia 🇲🇾 | ~12.4% | ~6 million |
| Philippines 🇵🇭 | ~8.2% | ~8 million |
| Viet Nam 🇻🇳 | ~7.1% | ~6 million |
*Prevalence rates are approximate and are extracted from national and regional data.
Notably, about 1 in 10 adults in Southeast Asia have diabetes - and even more worryingly, about 42.7% of these cases have yet to be diagnosed.
3. Types of Diabetes You Should Know
In Southeast Asia, there are three main forms of diabetes:
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM): The most common type, accounting for more than 90% cases worldwide. Often associated with overweight, physical inactivity and high sugar/carbohydrate intake.
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM): Less common but more serious. It is an autoimmune disease that usually appears in childhood or adolescence and requires lifelong insulin therapy.
- Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): occurs during pregnancy. It can affect up to a quarter of pregnant women in some urban areas in Southeast Asia. It also increases the risk of future illness for both mother and child.
4. why is diabetes growing so rapidly?
Several factors make Southeast Asia particularly vulnerable:
- Urbanized Living: Decreased physical activity and increased intake of processed and fast foods.
- Traditional Diet: A diet high in white rice and refined carbohydrates, combined with an increasing intake of sugar.
- Uneven medical resources: Medical services are limited in some rural or remote areas, resulting in late diagnosis.
- Genetics and Ethnicity: Studies have shown that Southeast Asians may develop insulin resistance even at lower weights.
- Lag in diagnosis: Many people don't realize they have diabetes until complications arise.
5. why is this important?
Uncontrolled diabetes not only affects individuals, but also places a heavy burden on national healthcare systems and economies. Complications of diabetes - such as kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, neuropathy, and vision loss - are not only expensive to treat, but also severely reduce quality of life.
In Southeast Asia, diabetes-related healthcare expenditures amount to about US$12 billion annually. Many cases can be prevented or delayed, especially through lifestyle changes and early detection.
6. The way forward
Efforts across the region are being focused on:
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🩺 Early screening programs and community awareness.
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🥗 Public Education: Promote healthy eating (reduce refined carbohydrates and sugar), increase physical activity and encourage regular checkups.
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💊 Improved medications and services: better access to healthcare and medication pipeline for patients with confirmed diagnoses.
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🏥 Strengthen the primary care system: enable it to respond more effectively to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.
7. Conclusion
Diabetes in Southeast Asia is not only a medical issue, but also a social and lifestyle issue. Modernization has brought convenience but also new health risks. But with the right choices, education and support, we can slow (and in some cases reverse) the rise of diabetes.
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