TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Diseases caused by the change of lifestyle is now posing a threat among Indonesians. Diabetes is one of such diseases.
Based on the latest study on health, it is estimated that around 6.9 percent of Indonesians suffers from diabetes. Nevertheless, the study also reveals that 70 percent of them are not aware that they suffer from the disease.
"70 percent are not aware that they have diabetes," said Head of Indonesian Diabetes Association, Sidhartawan Soegono, during the Global Diabetes Forum at Sheraton Hotel, Bali, Saturday, January 18, 2014.
A study on health conducted in 2007 showed that 5.7 percent of the total population of Indonesia suffered from diabetes. From the figure, only 1.2 percent admitted that they have diabetes. "The remaining 4.5 percent did not feel that they have the disease but when they're tested, the results are diabetes positive," said Sidhartawan.
Today, based on the data from the International Diabetes Forum, Indonesia is home to 8.5 millions of diabetes mellitus patients. The figure rose from that in 2012, which saw 7.1 million people having diabetes. Nonetheless, the report said that most of the cases remained undetected.
DIANING SARI
