BLUE SOCKS CREATES AWARENESS ON DIABETIC PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHYFEB 15, 2019 @2.30 PM
Dr Inthirani Sivarajah, Council member of Diabetes Malaysia explaining to Dr Zainudin Abdul Wahab, State Health Director, Federal Territory and Putrajaya Health Department about the symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).
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Diabetes Malaysia recently concluded the Blue Socks public education roadshow, a six-city roadshow held across Malaysia with support from Pfizer Malaysia. Organised to raise awareness among diabetics, their families and the public on painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy, a common diabetes complication, the roadshow series kicked off August last year in Kuala Lumpur, followed by stops in Georgetown, Sandakan, Kuching, Johor Bahru and Seremban.
Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (pDPN) pDPN - a type of neuropathic pain seen in patients, is one of the most frequent complications of diabetes. One in five patients may have pDPN, with symptoms including numbness, burning and tingling (pins and needles) sensations. pDPN can potentially lead to amputations as patients with the condition are more likely to develop foot ulcers due to unnoticed and untreated foot injuries. “In Malaysia, the burden of diabetes is a heavy one, with as many as 22.5% of adults having the condition. Increasingly younger people are also being diagnosed. With diabetes being a progressive disease, it is crucial to ensure good disease management early to avoid serious complications which can result in amputation if untreated," said KS Maniam, Assistant General Secretary of Diabetes Malaysia. Among the members of the public who visited the Blue Socks public education roadshow, many had never heard of pDPN and did not know they could seek treatment for the condition at the health centres catering to diabetics. They also had never received holistic foot care at the same centres, and thus found the lectures on foot care and the hands-on demonstrations extremely helpful. Meanwhile, through the information shared, the primary healthcare staff themselves became better informed about the seriousness of pDPN, and on the importance of conducting regular foot examinations for diabetic patients. The Blue Socks campaign follows a compelling survey released in 2017 on the perception of patients and doctors on pDPN in Southeast Asia. The survey found that the top three reasons why patients in Malaysia waited for an average of 1.7 years after their first pain symptom before discussing it with their doctor were : • they were unaware that diabetes can cause pDPN • they are fearful about the additional cost of treatment • they have limited consultation time with their doctors, which prevented them from addressing their chronic pain issue. |
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