While the crude prevalence of diabetes between 2010 (8.6%) and 2021-2022 (8.5%) remained stable, the age-standardised prevalence showed a declining trend (8.6% in 2010, 6.8% in 2021-2022). Both trends were not significant during this period.
Diabetes prevalence increased with age where the proportion of people with diabetes almost doubled with each successive age group from 1.9% among those aged 30 to 39 years to 21.8% among those aged 60 to 69 years. About one in every four (24.2%) older adults aged 70 to 74 years were affected by diabetes.
Among all residents with diabetes mellitus, close to one in five (18.8%) of them had not been previously diagnosed with diabetes.
The statistics above as sourced from the National Population Health Survey 2022
Serious health issues that can arise from diabetes include kidney failure, leg amputation, nerve damage, heart attack, stroke, vision loss and severe disabilities.
People with diabetes and their families may struggle with the costs of medical care. A high prevalence of diabetes can cause an economic loss to health systems and national economies as a result of direct medical costs and loss of work and wages.
The financial impact of diabetes, including medical costs and lost productivity, was projected to increase from over $940 million in 2014 to $1.8 billion by 2050.
As in many countries, Singapore’s population is ageing, and the proportion of individuals aged 60 and above is expected to rise from 13.3% in 2010 to 31.9% in 2050, making it a super-aged country. At a population level, the rapidly ageing population and low mortality rates will increase the proportion of people living with diabetes.
Although diabetes is not fatal in the short term; in certain cases of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, it can be fatal in the short term if misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. It is important that you manage, prevent or detect as soon as you can.
At Diabetes Singapore, we are here to support you with these services!
It is evident that diabetes poses a significant public health concern in Singapore. In response to this, on 13th April 2016, the Singapore Health Minister declared the War on Diabetes (WoD), citing the psychosocial and economic burden on individuals and families for the thrusts of this policy.
The WoD policy specifically addresses the concerns of diabetes and is positioned to encourage a whole-of-society effort to reduce the burden of diabetes in the population and to keep people healthy as they age. The vision was to create a supportive environment for people in Singapore to lead lives free from diabetes and those with diabetes to manage the condition well.
The Ministry of Health, and the Institute of Policy Studies, came together over the span of 7 weeks (November 2017 to January 2018) for the Citizens’ Jury on the War on Diabetes, with advice from experts. They discussed and debated ideas to rally citizens to raise awareness about diabetes and came to a consensus on community-based recommendations on how to prevent and manage diabetes better.
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