Kuala Belait - With diabetes ranked as third leading cause of death in Brunei, the public were advised to take better care of their health.

Acting Senior Health Officer at the Belait District Department of Health Dr Maimunah Hj Mokim said based on 2008 figures, diabetes mellitus accounted for 8.9 per cent or 97 deaths in the year 2008, with men leading the numbers by 53 deaths, nine more compared to women which was recorded at 44.

She also said that in 2008, diabetes was ranked number seven on the list of top ten cases requiring hospital admissions and eighth on the list of top ten cases registered through clinical referrals.

Dr Maimunah disclosed this during a health lecture entitled "Women and Diabetes" co-organised by the Belait District Department of Health and Belait District Women's Welfare Association on Saturday.

Held at the Belait District Department of Health, Dr Hjh Maimunah shared the information with the women who attended the lecture to shed light on the situation and raise awareness on how it affects women in particular.

The participants comprised mainly association members and wives of community leaders, including Dr Hjh Jamilah Hj Yusof, wife of Belait District Officer Hj Jamain Momin.

In her talk, Dr Maimunah explained to the women the various types of diabetes, its symptoms, the risks associated with diabetes, the quality of life of a diabetic and also the risks faced by women who have diabetes, specifically gestational diabetes. She said that if a person has diabetes, they were twice at risk to suffer from heart diseases compared to those who didn't have the disease.

If not kept in check, diabetes, especially in women could lead to more serious health conditions and may even cause death, she added.

Women with diabetes are three to seven times more likely to have heart diseases than those without diabetes and the symptoms of a heart attack in women may be different from that experienced by men, she added.

She also told the participants the various ways in which women could help to take control of the situation simply by playing their role in society as child, mother or wife.

A health screening to determine the body mass index was also conducted for those in attendance to assess their risk factor. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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