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Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases, and millions of people are living with it worldwide. It is also a growing concern in Hong Kong. Indeed it puts a significant burden on the public healthcare system and individual health costs, due to the complications it can cause. Here is your complete guide to diabetes in Hong Kong, with all the details and resources you need.
Blood sugar, or glucose is a substance that the human body needs for energy and the brain for fuel. Insulin, secreted by the pancreas, is a hormone that maintains optimal glucose level by facilitating the use and storage of glucose in the body. Diabetes Mellitus or Diabetes, is a group of malfunctions and diseases, which manifest as raised glucose levels.
There are 2 types of Diabetes:
Poorly managed diabetes can lead to shock or death in acute attacks, but normally it brings diverse health issues like retinopathy or nephropathy. Pre-diabetes and gestational diabetes also occur, but these are two reversible forms of diabetes which might or might not go away by themselves with time.
In 2019, about 463 million people, meaning 9.1% of the adult population, suffered from diabetes in the world. Diabetes affects men and women equally, increasing the risk of early death by 2 times. Current trends suggest that diabetes prevalence will continue to rise.
Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Hong Kong. It is the 10th most common cause of death in Hong Kong, killing around 400 - 500 people each year.
A recent study shows that diabetic patients in Hong Kong can be as young as 3 year olds. Sadly, one in ten Hong Kong people suffers from diabetes, of which one-fifth is below 40 years of age. It is estimated that the total number of diabetic adults in Hong Kong will increase from 700,000 currently to nearly a million by 2030.
In China, the number of people diagnosed with diabetes is now the highest in the world as the disease affects approximately over 100 million people, especially elders. The prevalence of diabetes nearly doubled in the past few decades. Today, one in three diabetic adults in the world lives in China.
Diabetes is very often diagnosed because of the signs and symptoms that a patient experiences. They can include:
Diabetes mellitus affects almost the entire body mainly driven by uncontrolled high blood glucose level. Common complications of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are:
Both Type 1 and Type 2 can appear at any age, but Type 1 is more common among children and youngsters, while Type 2 mostly starts in middle-aged and older adults.
For Type 1, there is no known cause to this autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the pancreas, thus no insulin can be produced. Genetic factors and family history may also play a role.
For Type 2, unhealthy lifestyle such as physical inactivity, high fat and sugar diet, and obesity are the main factors – which makes it preventable. That said, the risks of developing Type 2 diabetes are higher given there is a family history.
Making conscious efforts can delay the onset and control the disease, especially in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
Screening of diabetes is essential in Hong Kong because the rate of incidence is very high. Screening helps for early detection and sometimes helps stop the progression to diabetes mellitus (from pre-diabetes). The most common mechanisms are collecting and testing urine samples for ketones; or performing blood tests before and after eating.
You can find here some guidelines about screening in Hong Kong for Diabetes Mellitus. If risk factors are present, screening must be repeated every 12 months, and if not, every three years after 45 years of age. Risk-based screening is prevalent in Hong Kong.
FPG or fasting plasma glucose is the main test involved in such screening programmes.
In Hong Kong, the prevalence of diabetes among adults is about 10%. Hospital Authority manages about 40% of the patients with diabetes (in one of its public sector facilities), who have one or more complications. You can get screened for diabetes mellitus in most of the private hospitals and clinics in Hong Kong. Non-governmental organizations such as Diabetes Hong Kong also provides screening for diabetes complications.
In 1995, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) jointly pioneered a research-driven quality improvement programme to understand the causes and consequences of diabetes and improve the quality of ambulatory diabetes care. This involved diabetes nurse-coordinated comprehensive risk assessment programme, in which patient data on risk factors and complications were collected prospectively to establish the Hong Kong Diabetes Registry (HKDR).
Diabetes cannot be treated per se; it needs to be managed. Often, one or more of the following options for the management of diabetes are clubbed together for better results.
Type 1 Diabetes Management:
The goal is to keep the blood sugar levels as close to normal as possible to prevent unwanted complications. Multiple insulin injections remain the most effective and most common line of treatment.
Furthermore, the management tricks mentioned below for Type 2 Diabetes are also helpful in Type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Management:
1. Weight loss: Active weight loss mechanisms like exercise, diet control, etc.
2. Regular Exercise: Even if you are not obese, diabetes requires regular exercise to keep the muscles fit and strong. Muscular dystrophy is a common side effect of diabetes.
3. Medication: The oldest one and still commonly prescribed is metformin, which works by lowering glucose production by the liver, and by improving the body’s sensitivity to insulin at the same time.
There are newer classes of drugs such as:
4. Insulin Therapy: You may need insulin injection if your diabetes does not improve even with strict lifestyle management and oral medications. For Type 2 diabetes, mostly one single long-acting shot is given at nighttime.
5. Blood Sugar Monitoring: This is an important step in Type 2 diabetes management, as this can help the doctor figure out the progression and stage of your disease from time to time, and also ease out drug charting.
Gestational Diabetes Management: In case you are diagnosed with diabetes during pregnancy, you will have to follow a very strict monitoring schedule, especially in the last three months of the pregnancy. Usually, gestational diabetes goes away by itself after the delivery, but in the meantime, injections are given usually prior to meals, and sweets in any form are to be avoided so as to maintain the right blood sugar levels. The child is also tested multiple times, for 36 to 48 hours after birth, to check for signs of diabetes and there is a risk of the infant going in shock immediately after birth, so an intravenous line is pre-inserted as a precaution in case of an emergency. Check the guidelines for gestational diabetes in Hong Kong here.
Self-Monitoring Blood Glucose: Self-monitoring Blood Glucose (SMBG) with a portable glucose meter is an important part of management for diabetic patients to prevent hypoglycemia (blood glucose level is too low). If you are on multiple insulin injections, you are advised to test your blood sugar level before meals, before and after exercise and at bedtime. Click here for more details on the procedures.
Diabetic foot care
You should bear in mind that foot examination is critical in avoiding possible amputation in the future as an elevated sugar blood level increases the risk of neuropathy, infection and peripheral arterial diseases that worsens ulcers. To keep your feet healthy, you should:
Driving
Low glucose level, retinopathy and neuropathy in diabetes are what makes driving dangerous for diabetic patients. According to the Hong Kong Transport Department, you are eligible for applying for a driving license if your diabetes is well-controlled but you should notify the Department. Consult your doctor if you have any worries.
Traveling
Traveling with diabetes can be quite confusing sometimes as you are in completely different time zones, so your medication routine will probably be messed up. It is essential to inform your pharmacist or doctor so they can make the best changes for you.
Cost of Diabetes treatment in Hong Kong’s Public Sector:
For eligible persons with a HKID card, the cost for a specialist outpatient clinic is $135 for first attendance, $80 per next attendance, $15 per drug item.
For non-eligible persons without a HKID card, the cost for a specialist outpatient service is $1,190 per day.
Beware of waiting times which can be very long in the public sector.
For details, call the Hospital Authority at 2300 6555.
Cost of Diabetes treatment in Hong Kong’s Private Sector:
Cost of diabetes treatment in the private sector would be determined according to the condition of the patient. Different types and stages of the disease require different treatment procedures, therefore it is best to consult a doctor and discuss the options that best suit your situation. Generally, consultations cost around $1000 to $3000 excluding medication fees.
* All amounts are in HKD. No responsibility is accepted for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. It is always best to call ahead to make sure the information is still up-to-date.
Useful resources about Diabetes in Hong Kong:
Diabetes patient may exhibit symptoms including increased thirst and appetite, frequent urination with sweet urine, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, slow-healing sores, frequent skin infections and blurred vision.
A diabetic person should avoid high-sugar food like rice, bread and sweet beverages, but have more low-fat, high-fibre content food, especially green leafy vegetables, fruits and whole grain food.
Test strips can be purchased over-the-counter at a pharmacy or online to test yourself for diabetes. Some people would monitor their blood glucose level with a blood glucose meter (the finger-prick test). Nevertheless, home testing kits should only be used for preliminary screening but not relied as diagnosis. Please visit a doctor for a professional diagnosis.
Although diabetes can not be treated completely, cautious managements are necessary in means of diet control, medications, weight control, etc, to prevent the health from worsening.
This article was reviewed by Dr. Ernest Li 李恒輝醫生. Dr. Ernest Li is a Hong Kong based Chinese Canadian Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. After graduating in Physics at McGill University, Dr. Li studied medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He then received 12 years of training at government hospitals, and achieved specialist qualifications in gastroenterology, hepatology and internal medicine. Currently, he is a private practitioner with an office in Central, and also a part-time associate consultant for Hospital Authority.
According to Alea, diabetes treatment is usually reimbursed by insurance providers under inpatient and outpatient benefits. Generally, high-end medical plans will reimburse in full without any sub-limit whereas local plans will have sub-limits. Also note that high-end plans may cap reimbursements for the routine management of chronic conditions such as diabetes.
Learn more: Getting Insurance When You Have Diabetes
If you have any health insurance questions, contact an expert at [email protected].
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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