Ripas Hospital to introduce diabetes education project

THE Diabetes Centre at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital will be initiating its diabetes education programme this April to decrease the number of diabetes patients, which has hit younger patients.

"We are seeing an increasing number of younger diabetes patients, mostly due to increasing rate of obesity in the country," said a diabetes nurse educator from the Diabetes Centre who did not want to be named.

Speaking to The Brunei Times at the World Kidney Day celebration yesterday, he explained that diabetes no longer only affects those above the age of 40.

"Previously, diabetes was predominant among those aged 40 and above, but with the increase in obesity rate among the young, we have more younger diabetes patients now," he added.

The diabetes education programme will be offering free group sessions on diabetes at the Health Promotion Centre.

"We want to see the number of diabetes patients decrease, and the centre is there to make sure that the quality of lives of the patients are enhanced," he said.

He added that the education programme will be continuous and their aim is to focus on educating people on diabetes and preventing it, rather than treatment.

The programme will be divided into two sessions to be conducted every Saturday of the first and third week of every month.

The first session will highlight the definition of diabetes, its risk factors, types of diabetes, signs and symptoms. It will also discuss the complication of diabetes and its management such as diet, exercise and medication.

Session two will focus on achieving the best level of blood glucose for an individual, self-monitoring of blood glucose, foot care and eye screening, hypoglycaemia management and managing diabetes on special occasions such as on sick days, during travelling and Ramadhan.

These sessions will be facilitated by the centre's diabetes nurse educators.

Asked whether two sessions are enough to create a deep understanding and awareness of diabetes, the nurse educator said, "There is a lot that we can talk about when it comes to diabetes. The topics that we're going to raise in the sessions are what we consider most important for the patients and public to know."

"Our target is 30 people per month. This group will undergo the two sessions," said another nurse educator at the centre who declined to be named.

He added that the patients will comprise health clinic patient referrals as well as the public who registered for the programme.

The form is available at the Diabetes Centre of Ripas Hospital. Those interested can fax the form to 2226458, and the centre will call them with the appointment dates.

The public can also call 2242424 ext 6230 for more information. — Rasidah H A B

The Brunei Times