Thailand in the grip of diabetes

Diabetes is now truly global. In Asia, where both type 1 and type 2 were rarities throughout the region only a decade ago, levels of the disease are growing at a tremendous rate. Both of the two diabetes hotspots of the world, China and India, are on this continent. Now Thailand has also joined the ranks of nations with a serious diabetes problem, in new information from the Thai government.
Yesterday the TNA (Thai News Agency) quoted the Deputy Public Health Minister, Mr Anutin Charnvirakul, about information on Thai disease levels. He was reported as listing high blood pressure, diabetes and heart diseases as the three major Thai healthcare problems. In terms of numbers, the disease affected 265,000, 247,000 and 242,000 respectively.
The Deputy Minister was also reported as saying that these diseases have sprung from poor diets, based around high fat and too few vegetables, and inactivity on a daily basis. The Thai people apparently ignore health warnings and refuse to change, meaning that the diseases are on the rise. There are now 10 million Thai people at risk from these diseases.
The solution to the problems is being addressed, with the Thai people being encouraged to exercise more and change their unhealthy lifestyles. The Public Health ministry was said to support the establishment of health clubs across the nation.