In Singapore, diabetes is also one of the nation’s most infamous killer. In fact, the proportion of adults with diabetes rose sharply from 4.7% in 1984 to 9% in 1998 to 11% in 2017. The number of diabetic people is estimated to be about 450,000 now and is expected to rise further to about 670,000 by 2030 and to one million by 2050. A further 12 to 15% of the population suffer from pre-diabetes, of whom one in three will become diabetic. The worst part is one in three people does not realise he is diabetic, and roughly a third of those who do realise are unable to control their own blood sugar levels.
Among developed nations, Singapore’s percentage of diabetes incidence is second only to the United States. This is why diabetes became one of the main pillars in this year’s National Day Rally speech.
Some factors which contribute to the prevalence of diabetes are lack of physical activity, low fibre consumption levels, high fat consumption levels, and high consumption levels of sugar and ‘simple’ carbohydrates like bread or white rice.
In the past couple of decades, the massive spread of fast food restaurants has contributed to the rise of diabetes, especially among children. Obese people are especially prone to diabetes as their metabolism is already not as good as healthy people’s. Metabolic disruptions can easily lead to cardiovascular diseases!
In the eyes, cataracts and glaucoma are known to form more easily in people with diabetes. Moreover, the retina and eye blood vessels can also be impacted. If the area of retina or the blood vessels affected are close to the sensitive macula, a diabetic’s vision will be impaired. If the degree or degradation is severe or if the effects are not treated, blindness will follow. As for the kidneys, it is approximated by SingHealth that 30-50% of patients with diabetes mellitus do develop some form of kidney disease. Depending on the stage, kidney malfunctions caused by diabetes may be reversible with treatment. However, in the latter stages this is no longer possible.
Perhaps the heart is the most exposed organ to risks from diabetes. Blockage of the heart arteries is a top source of death for people with diabetes, causing heart attacks, heart failure, or angina. The risk of heart failure is approximately four times higher for people with diabetes, caused by the lower level of good cholesterol (HDL) and higher level of bad cholesterol (LDL and triglyceride) compared to healthy people. Not only are diabetics more prone to arteries blockage, they also tend to suffer from more extensive blockage once it happens.
Critical illness coverage
Considering the myriad of complications that regularly accompany diabetes, it is very important to own an insurance policy which covers critical illnesses to assist with the treatment costs.
All the associated complications named above can be debilitating to the patient when they reach the latter stages. Any one of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, or amputation can instantly jeopardise someone’s career and empty or at least reduce the family income just when money is needed the most for treatment.
To protect oneself and one’s family for such situations, a complete health insurance package is needed. Not only will it cover your own hospital costs, giving yourself and your family some peace of mind from not having to think about the financial burdens, it will also ensure that your family will be well-provided for should the worst happen.
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