Diabetes mellitus in Malaysia.

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease causing significant mortality and morbidity. It is a serious debilitating and deadly disease that has now reached epidemic proportions and the prevalence rates are expected to go even higher in the foreseeable future. Worldwide, in 1995 the number of people with diabetes was estimated to be 135 million; in the year 2000, it was 154 million and in the year 2025, it is expected to top 300 million people with the main increase being in the developing countries'. The projected increase in the developed countries is 42% but in the developing countries, the increase is estimated to be 170%. In Malaysia, the First National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS 1) conducted in 1986 reported a prevalence of diabetes mellitus of 6.3% and in the Second National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS 2) in 1996, the prevalence had risen to 8.2%'. In a study in Kelantan, the prevalence was reported to be higher at 10.51J!03. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that in 2030, Malaysia would have a total number of 2.48 million diabetics compared to 0.94 million in 2000 a 164% increase 4.