Diabetes Cause Of Two Thirds Of 55 000 Patients Having Kidney Problems

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A total of 7,000 new patients suffering from kidney problems are discovered every year and need to undergo dialysis treatment. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Diabetes contributed to 66% of the 55,000 chronic kidney patients in the country needing to undergo dialysis treatment
In stating this, Dr Lily Mushahar, the head of the Department of Nephrology, Hospital Tuanku Jaafar, Seremban, said that besides diabetes, about 30% of the chronic kidney patients were suffering from high blood pressure and other factors such as genetic diseases, kidney cancer, consumption of pain killers and supplements, without seeking the advice of doctors
“The number of kidney patients is increasing each year
“A total of 7,000 new patients suffering from kidney problems are discovered every year and need to undergo dialysis treatment,” she said during the “Ruang Bicara” programme on Bernama News Channel
She said that unbalanced food intake and the preference for sweet food were the causes of diabetes. This then contributed to kidney diseases
Meanwhile, Dr Nor Fadhlina Zakaria, nephrology expert consultant at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, who appeared as a guest on the programme, said health screening should be done every year
Those suffering from diabetes and hypertension must undergo such screenings more often
She said the number of kidney donations in the country was still low, with only 1.3% out of the 30 million Malaysians registered as kidney donors
“About 21,000 patients, who have undergone dialysis treatment, are waiting for kidney donors
“The situation is serious as no family member wants to come forward and donate,” she added. - FMT

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