Diabetes mellitus is a major chronic disease in Hong Kong. At present, there are about 700 000 people with diabetes mellitus in Hong Kong, accounting for about 10% of the total population, that is, one out of every 10 Hong Kong people has diabetes mellitus, and the number is obviously rising rapidly. Regarding the incidence rate, 2% of people under the age of 35 suffer from diabetes mellitus. Among people aged 65 or above, more than 20% of them suffer from diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of disease, disability and death. In Hong Kong, diabetes ranks 10th among the most common fatal diseases, causing 548 registered deaths in 2021.
75-year-old Uncle Wong, who has been retired for many years and receives OALA, suffers from diabetes and uses a blood glucose machine to check his blood glucose every day. However, the cost of purchasing blood glucose test strips is too expensive, which is a financial burden for him.
"I have been retired for many years and I live on the Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) every month. I am a diabetic and I have to use a blood glucose machine to test my blood glucose level every day. However, the cost of blood glucose test strips is very expensive, which is a very small amount for me. Sometimes I would like to save some money and use fewer test strips, which makes me not able to control my blood glucose well. If my blood sugar is not well controlled, it will lead to many complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease, eye problems and so on.
It was not until I met a staff member of Shun Yu that he told me about the Diabetic Trial Strips Subsidy Scheme launched by the Hong Kong Diabetes Association. The scheme is to encourage diabetic patients to make use of blood glucose machines to monitor their blood glucose to control their condition and to avoid or minimize complications. If you are eligible, you can buy blood glucose test strips and blood glucose machine at a discounted price.
I think this program is really good, it can help me save a lot of money and give me more confidence and motivation to manage my blood sugar. The staff of Sunyu also introduced me to become a member of the District Health Centre so that I can join the Diabetes Management Programme organized by the District Health Centre. The program has helped me to improve my diabetes management skills and monitor my blood glucose regularly.
After joining the Diabetes Management Programme organized by the District Health Centre, professionals such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, social workers, etc. were arranged to provide me with guidance and support. They will also organize activities and seminars so that I can meet other people with the same condition and learn from each other.
Since joining the Diabetes Test Strip Subsidy Program and the Diabetes Management Program, my life has improved a lot. I no longer worry about the cost of blood glucose test strips and I no longer ignore my condition. I started to pay attention to my diet and exercise regularly, and take my medication and check my blood glucose regularly. My blood glucose level has become more stable and I am able to manage my blood glucose well. I have also made friends with people who are in the same boat."
According to the "Hong Kong Diabetes Reference Profile - Care of Adults with Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Care", it is recommended that members of the public should be screened for diabetes mellitus starting from the age of 45 to avoid delay in diagnosis and treatment. If the result is normal, screening should be repeated every three years. People with risk factors for diabetes (e.g. overweight, obesity, family history of diabetes, etc.) should be screened more frequently as appropriate. Members of the public can consult their doctors if they have any questions about diabetes or related screening methods.
If you or your elderly friends have any problems in their lives, please contact us at Sunyu, we are always happy to be a support to the elderly. For details of the Diabetes Support Service Lazy Pack, please click the link below:
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