Speech by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Health, at Women's Wellness Day 'Fight Diabetes', 18 September 2016

Ms Jessica Tan, Grassroots Adviser to East Coast GRC Grassroots Organisations

Ms Cheryl Chan, Grassroots Adviser to Fengshan SMC Grassroots Organisations

Residents of East Coast GRC and Fengshan SMC

Ladies and Gentlemen

INTRODUCTION

1.            Good afternoon, everyone. First of all, I am happy to be here for Women’s Wellness Day. I am also very happy to see many women here today, and I am indeed even happier that the theme for today’s Women’s Wellness Day is ‘Fight Diabetes’.

THE BURDEN OF DIABETES

2.            This is a very important and timely topic, and it is in line with our War on Diabetes. Diabetes is a major health challenge, not only in our nation, but also around the world. In 2014, about 440,000 Singaporeans aged 18 years and above had diabetes. And this number is estimated to go up to one million by 2050, especially if we do not do anything about it. What it means is that one in three of us have a lifetime risk of developing diabetes. That is how serious the issue is. Consider these sobering statistics - each day, four Singaporeans have their toes, or part of their lower limbs removed, as a result of nerve damage caused by diabetes. Many cases of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and blindness, can also be traced to poor control of diabetes.

3.            So, what can we do? Actually, diabetes is preventable, and in fact, for those with the disease, you can manage the condition so that you can continue to have a good quality of life. What we want to do is prevent people from getting diabetes. This was why the Ministry of Health declared war on diabetes in April this year. The objective is to help individuals to lead lives free from diabetes, and for those with diabetes, to help them to be able to lead good quality lives by managing their condition well.

LIVE HEALTHY, BEAT DIABETES

4.            How can we prevent diabetes? What is the first step? Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the first step to fighting diabetes. It is also the first step to preventing many chronic diseases, aside from diabetes. Most of us recognise the importance of a healthy diet, and regular exercise. But many people are not doing it. Why? One of the reasons is because Singapore is a food paradise. Even the most disciplined of us enjoy Chai Tow Kway – and the darker, the better! While occasional treats do no long-term harm, the danger is overeating or eating unhealthy food on a daily basis, and consuming too much nutrients of the wrong kind, such as refined carbohydrates, sugar and fat.

5.            Let me share with you some tips towards a healthier diet. I call it the “3Rs” – Remove, Reduce, and Replace. Whenever I order chicken rice, I will remove the chicken skin. In fact, the HPB has a healthier chicken rice option. For coffee, which I drink occasionally, I reduce the amount of sugar added. In addition, I started with replacing 20 per cent of my white rice with brown rice, and by now, I have replaced 100 per cent of my white rice with brown rice. These are small, doable, and sustainable steps, as we strive towards a healthier lifestyle.

6.            For children, find a sport you enjoy, and persevere at it! You will not find exercise difficult when you are doing something you love. For adults, it is never too late to start. Our children look up to us, and the example we set influence whether they adopt a healthy lifestyle themselves.

SPOTLIGHT ON GESTATIONAL DIABETES

7.            One aspect of diabetes unique to women is gestational diabetes. Out of every five pregnant women, one will get gestational diabetes – twenty per cent. When you get gestational diabetes, it does not only affect you, it also affects your baby. That is why we need to pay attention to it.

8.            If you get gestational diabetes, the risk of complications in pregnancy is higher. You can get high blood pressure if you don’t control your blood sugar, and during delivery, you may have to undergo a caesarean section because the baby is too big to be delivered naturally. And if you get gestational diabetes, the next time you get pregnant, there is a high chance that you will get gestational diabetes again. It does not end after delivery. There is a higher risk that you will get type 2 diabetes. In fact, studies have shown that one out of every ten women with a history of gestational diabetes will get type 2 diabetes within five years.^[1] The child also has a higher risk of obesity and a higher long-term risk of getting type 2 diabetes. So it does not only affect the mother, it also affects the child.

9.            This is why we need to encourage all women, soon-to-be-mothers, as well as pregnant women, to have a healthy lifestyle, eat healthily, maintain a healthy weight, and have regular exercise. Women with gestational diabetes should control or monitor their blood sugar level and after delivery, they should have regular follow-up yearly to prevent type 2 diabetes.

COLLABORATION BETWEEN KK WOMEN’S AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AND PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION’S NETWORK OF WOMEN’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

10.         This is why KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH), Singapore’s academic medical centre for the management of complex pregnancies and children’s health, will partner the People’s Association to launch its talk series on “Women and Diabetes”. They will be holding it on a quarterly basis, based on demand, at all the constituencies. We hope that you will encourage your family and friends to sign up for these talks, and learn more about gestational diabetes. A lot of women may not even know about gestational diabetes and they may not know that they could be at risk. This is why we need to encourage people to come for the talks.

11.         There will be a cooking demonstration later, where instructors will share how to prepare delicious dishes that are rich in whole-grains, and high in calcium. These recipes help reduce a post-meal sugar spike, while benefitting bone health. I hope you will try these recipes at home, and even develop your own healthy recipes, and share them with others.

CONCLUSION

12.         Lastly, I want to end by thanking the Changi Simei Citizens’ Consultative Committee, the Women’s Executive Committees in East Coast GRC and Fengshan SMC, KKH, and People’s Association for organizing this event to raise awareness about diabetes. Knowing our enemy is the first step to fighting the War on Diabetes. Thank you for your contributions towards the war on diabetes.

13.         I wish everyone an enjoyable and informative afternoon. Thank you.