By : KASMIAH MUSTAPHA
 Diabetics need to control their sugar intake. |
A worldwide study involving five Malaysian hospitals looks at heart and stroke risks for diabetics. KASMIAH MUSTAPHA listens to what the experts have to say.
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| Chan: “In treating diabetic patients, we had always looked at controlling their blood pressure.” |
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| Khalid advises patients to lead a healthy lifestyle. |
PEOPLE with diabetes not only need to monitor their blood sugar levels, but also have to control their blood pressure. A diabetic person with high blood pressure is at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Professor Chan Siew Pheng, senior consultant endocrinologist at the University Malaya’s Medical Centre says cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death for people with Type II diabetes.
“The risks of heart attack and stroke are higher for them if they do not control their blood pressure. In addition, the poor control of blood sugar level will cause more complications as it will increase the risk of narrowing of the blood vessels in the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.”
Five centres in Malaysia were involved: University Malaya Medical Centre, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Penang General Hospital, Ipoh General Hospital and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Chan, who is the lead investigator for UMMC, says the four-year study found that the fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide had lowered the risk of total mortality by 14 per cent.
Professor Chan Siew Pheng, senior consultant endocrinologist at the University Malaya’s Medical Centre says cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death for people with Type II diabetes.
“The risks of heart attack and stroke are higher for them if they do not control their blood pressure. In addition, the poor control of blood sugar level will cause more complications as it will increase the risk of narrowing of the blood vessels in the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.”
Chan was speaking at a news conference to announce the results of a worldwide study on the effect of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide in controlling blood pressure levels for people withType 2 diabetes.
The advanced trial involved 11,140 patients in 20 countries in Asia, Australasia, Europe and North America.Five centres in Malaysia were involved: University Malaya Medical Centre, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Penang General Hospital, Ipoh General Hospital and Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Chan, who is the lead investigator for UMMC, says the four-year study found that the fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide had lowered the risk of total mortality by 14 per cent.
It was also found that the combination of the two drugs lowered the risk of cardiovascular death by 18 per cent, reduced major vascular events by nine per cent, total coronary events by 14 per cent and total renal events by 21 per cent.
In Malaysia, the National Health and Morbidity Survey showed an increase in adult diabetes from 6.3 per cent in 1986 to 8.8 per cent in 1996. It was estimated that one in every 10 adult Malaysians is a diabetic.
Globally there are 25 million people with diabetes, most of whom will eventually die or be disabled by the complications of the disease.
The patients selected for the trial were aged 55 and above, and who had a history of macro and micro vascular disease 10 years prior to joining the trial. They also had signs of other risk factors and were either hypertensive or normotensive.
Chan says five years of treatment with the fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide would have prevented one major vascular event among 66 patients, one death among 79 patients, one coronary event among 75 patients and one renal event in 20 patients.
“As Malaysia is involved in the study, the data is relevant to our population. In treating diabetic patients, we had always looked at controlling their blood pressure.”
HUKM consultant cardiologist Professor Datuk Khalid Yusoff says it is important that people with diabetes have better control of their blood sugar level to avoid complications.
“You have to consider that you are at risk of heart, kidney and eye diseases. Always talk to your doctor about the right treatments for you.”
“The most important thing for a diabetic is to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. This will help in controlling your condition.”
The advanced trial included four major sub-studies looking at heart and eye functions after intervention, cost-effectiveness and quality of life and genetic factors. The trial was initiated and designed by the investigators and co-sponsored by the George Institute for International Health (Australia), the University of Sydney and pharmaceutical company Servier.
The results of the second part of the trial, that sets out to assess the risks and benefits of intensive glucose lowering, will be announced at the end of the year.
In Malaysia, the National Health and Morbidity Survey showed an increase in adult diabetes from 6.3 per cent in 1986 to 8.8 per cent in 1996. It was estimated that one in every 10 adult Malaysians is a diabetic.
Globally there are 25 million people with diabetes, most of whom will eventually die or be disabled by the complications of the disease.
The patients selected for the trial were aged 55 and above, and who had a history of macro and micro vascular disease 10 years prior to joining the trial. They also had signs of other risk factors and were either hypertensive or normotensive.
Chan says five years of treatment with the fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide would have prevented one major vascular event among 66 patients, one death among 79 patients, one coronary event among 75 patients and one renal event in 20 patients.
“As Malaysia is involved in the study, the data is relevant to our population. In treating diabetic patients, we had always looked at controlling their blood pressure.”
HUKM consultant cardiologist Professor Datuk Khalid Yusoff says it is important that people with diabetes have better control of their blood sugar level to avoid complications.
“You have to consider that you are at risk of heart, kidney and eye diseases. Always talk to your doctor about the right treatments for you.”
“The most important thing for a diabetic is to exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. This will help in controlling your condition.”
The advanced trial included four major sub-studies looking at heart and eye functions after intervention, cost-effectiveness and quality of life and genetic factors. The trial was initiated and designed by the investigators and co-sponsored by the George Institute for International Health (Australia), the University of Sydney and pharmaceutical company Servier.
The results of the second part of the trial, that sets out to assess the risks and benefits of intensive glucose lowering, will be announced at the end of the year.
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