KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital Celebrates World Diabetes Day 2025 with Public Health Awareness Programme

16 November 2025

KOTA KINABALU: KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital marked World Diabetes Day 2025 with a community-focused health awareness programme aimed at promoting early detection, preventive lifestyle habits, and improved diabetes management among the public. The half-day event, held at Kinabalu Hall (Level 8), brought together medical specialists and members of the community for an engaging and educational session.

Recent findings from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 highlight a pressing national concern, with 21 per cent of Malaysians — or one in five adults — diagnosed with diabetes. Malaysia currently ranks 13th globally and records the highest diabetes prevalence in South-East Asia. In response to this growing public health challenge, KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital continues to strengthen its commitment to early diagnosis, prevention, and comprehensive diabetes education through its annual World Diabetes Day initiatives.

Themed around the global mission of strengthening diabetes awareness, this year’s event served as a platform to address the rising prevalence of the disease in Malaysia and emphasise the importance of timely diagnosis and effective long-term care.

The programme featured two expert-led health talks addressing key questions surrounding diabetes, including whether the condition can be prevented, why prevention is vital, and the potential for reversing early-stage diabetes.

Dr Murugan S. Rajan, Consultant in General Medicine and Physician, delivered a presentation titled “Diabetes Mellitus: To Prevent or To Reverse?” in which he discussed practical approaches to prevention, the importance of reducing long-term health risks, and the potential for disease reversal through early intervention and lifestyle modification.

This was followed by a session with Dr Tee Hwee Ching, Consultant Endocrinologist and Physician, who presented “Diagnose Early, Manage Smart: Elevating Standards in Diabetes Care.” Dr Tee highlighted the importance of early diagnosis, particularly the need to screen asymptomatic individuals who may be at risk despite showing no outward symptoms. She also emphasised the role of medical nutrition therapy, with a focus on carbohydrate management, as a key component in improving long-term diabetes care.

The event additionally featured a range of interactive activities and health promotion booths, including:

Free HbA1c screening for the first 150 participants

Foot care and diabetic complication awareness booth

Insulin technique demonstrations

Diabetes-friendly food sampling

Educational games and an aerobic session led by KPJ Sabah’s Diabetic Educator Team

These activities were designed to engage participants of all ages and equip them with practical knowledge on diabetes management, dietary choices, and active living.

KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital remains steadfast in advancing public health efforts and strengthening community awareness. Through initiatives such as World Diabetes Day, the hospital continues to promote preventive healthcare, encourage early detection, and support comprehensive patient management, in alignment with KPJ Healthcare’s “Care for Life” values.