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Written by: Golden Chess
2021-01-26 18:51
Last update date: 2021-01-26 18:51
Diabetes is becoming more common in Hong Kong, and the number of patients is also increasing.
The Hospital Authority published the first "Overview of Diabetes Treatment 2019/20", stating that more than 490,000 diabetic patients received outpatient services from the Hospital Authority from 2019 to 20, and the number of patients has increased by 47% in 8 years.
The patients are also getting younger. Among the 41,000 new cases that year, nearly 57% were between 40 and 64 years old.
In addition, the report also pointed out that young patients between the ages of 18 and 39 have poor control of the average blood glucose level. 16.2% of patients have an average blood glucose level of 9% or more, which is 2 percentage points above the standard.
Doctors pointed out that for every 1 percentage point higher blood glucose, the risk of complications will increase by 20% to 30%. It is estimated that the reason for poor control of young patients is busy work.
The Hospital Authority published the first "Overview of Diabetes Treatment 2019/20", stating that more than 490,000 diabetic patients received outpatient services from the Hospital Authority from 2019 to 20, and the number of patients has increased by 47% in 8 years.
(Photo by Golden Chess)
According to a report from the Hospital Authority, about two-thirds of diabetic patients will be seen in the general outpatient clinic of the HA in 2019-20, and one-third will be seen in the specialist outpatient clinic.
Zhou Weiqiang, co-chairman of the Central Committee for Diabetes Services of the Hospital Authority, pointed out that a large number of diabetic patients are elderly patients, and more than half are people over 65 years old; among the new diseases in 2019/20, nearly 60% are middle-aged patients, ranging from 40 To 64 years old.
He estimated that by 2024, the number of diabetic patients receiving treatment in the HA will increase to 627,000.
Zhou Weiqiang also pointed out that people with diabetes in Hong Kong are getting younger. This phenomenon has been observed clinically a few years ago. There are new patients in middle-aged and elderly people, but the percentage of middle-aged people is obviously higher.” He also pointed out that the HA In the past, efforts were made to improve demand management, including broadening the drug roster, public-private partnership projects, etc., hoping to help diabetic patients.
He also emphasized, "We have done a lot of work in all aspects, but there are more and more people with diabetes, which will pose certain challenges to the services of the HA in the future."
Cai Xiangxi pointed out that some patients originally "eat a lot and have poor diet control", and the epidemic restricts patients from eating out frequently. "Unknowingly, the average blood sugar level without medication has improved by a few percentage points."
(Photo by Golden Chess)
In terms of the prevalence of diabetes complications, Liang Yanxin, chairman of the Hospital Authority’s Diabetes Service Central Committee, said that more than 37.7% of diabetic patients also have diabetes and nephropathy, which is equivalent to 176,000; 14.9% of general outpatient diabetic patients and 31.4% of specialist outpatient diabetes The patient also suffers from stage III or more advanced chronic kidney disease.
Liang also pointed out that the risk factors of younger patients in Hong Kong are poorly controlled. Taking the average blood glucose as an example, the proportion of patients whose average blood glucose is controlled below the 7% standard has increased from 41.3% in 2011-12 to 2019-20 52.4% of the year; however, 16.2% of young patients aged 18 to 39 have an average blood sugar of 9% or more. She bluntly said: "The risk of complications is relatively high."
Liang Yanxin believes that due to the long working hours of a young group of patients, "it is more difficult to arrange the time to see doctors and dietitians." It is also difficult to achieve healthy diet and exercise. In addition, the proportion of type 1 diabetes among patients aged 18 to 39 is higher, which requires every Injecting insulin every day is "difficult to control."
She said that the primary task for young patients is "self-management." "Many young patients feel that they don't care about their health, and they may be aware that complications may not appear early." Therefore, I hope that patients will focus on patients.
In terms of overall patient treatment, Liang Yanxin emphasized that it will be "personalized".
Regarding the impact of the novel coronavirus pneumonia on people with diabetes, Cai Xiangxi, chairman of the Quality Assurance Subcommittee of the Central Committee of the Hospital Authority's Diabetes Service, believes that the patient's situation is "polarized."
He explained that some patients originally "eat a lot and have poor diet control", and the epidemic restricts patients from eating out frequently. "Unknowingly, the average blood glucose level without medication has improved by a few percentage points." However, some patients were unable to eat out. Going out to exercise makes the condition worse.
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