KUANTAN, Dec 4 — The number of diabetic patients in Pahang has risen to 50,415 as at November compared to 44,827 in 2013, said State Health, Human Resources and Special Functions Committee chairman Datuk Norol Azali Sulaiman.

He said the increase was worrying and prompted the Pahang state government to find a way to overcome this trend.

“We will try to increase awareness among the people because results of the national health survey 2011 showed that half of the patients diagnosed with diabetes did not know they had it,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the state-level World Diabetes Day celebration which was also attended by Pahang Health director Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar.

Therefore, he called on individuals who have a higher risk of diabetes due to being overweight or have a family member with diabetes to go for periodic health examinations for early detection and treatment. — Bernama