Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is a chronic
disease where the body does not make or does not use insulin
properly, resulting in having too much sugar (glucose) in the
blood. Sugar comes from the food we eat. The body needs sugar
to make energy. The amount of sugar in the blood of a normal
person is closely controlled by a substance called insulin.
Insulin is made by the pancreas, a gland found below the stomach.
People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin or
the insulin produced does not work well. As a result, sugar
builds up in the blood.
Over time, high sugar levels can give rise to problems like
infections, blindness, kidney disorders, stroke, heart disease,
and foot and leg disorders.
Who gets diabetes?
About 9% of the adult population in Singapore
have diabetes. Diabetes can affect people of any age or race.
However, 90% of people with diabetes are over 40 years old.
Some risks of diabetes mellitus include:
• Family history
• More than 40 years of age
• Exposure to a trigger mechanism (a virus or chemical
Types of Diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes:
Type 1 (Insulin-dependent
Persons with Type 1 diabetes cannot control their blood sugar
properly because their pancreas produces little or no insulin.
The body’s own immune system (the system in the body that
produces substances to help it fight against infection and disease)
mistakenly destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas.
They need insulin injections to control
their blood sugars. It usually happens to young people. It can
also occur in older adults, but less commonly.
Type 2 (Non-insulin dependent
About 80% of all persons with diabetes belong to this group.
They can produce insulin, but their body does not use it effectively.
Type 2 diabetes can be controlled by diet,
exercise and medicines. If these fail, insulin injections may
Some women develop diabetes during pregnancy
– gestational diabetes. A family history of diabetes is
an important risk factor. Gestational diabetes usually disappears
after the baby is born, but it may reappear during next pregnancies.
In some women, gestational diabetes leads to diabetes mellitus.
Symptoms of Diabetes
If you are experiencing one or more of
the following symptoms associated with diabetes, immediately
consult your healthcare professional.
• Increased urination
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Poorly healing cuts or bruises
• Increased hunger and thirst
• Rapid weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dry, itchy skin
• Loss of feeling in hands or feet
At present, no cure is available for diabetes.
But with regular self-monitoring of blood glucose and a proper
combination of diet, exercise and medication, people with diabetes
lead active, healthy lives.
People with diabetes can live a healthy
life. Research studies have found that lifestyle changes can
prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes among high-risk
adults. Changing diet and adding moderate exercise (such as
walking) reduced the development of diabetes in study participants
by over 40% during the study.