PETALING JAYA: The percentage of diabetic patients in the country who kept their target blood sugar level within the Health Ministry’s target increased last year.

       According to the National Diabetes Registry Report 2020, 30.7% of Type 2 diabetes patients achieved the target HbA1c level of less than 6.5%.

       HbA1c refers to glycated haemoglobin which develops when haemoglobin attaches to glucose in the blood.

       The higher the level, the greater the risk of developing diabetes- related complications.

       “The quality assurance indicator is measured as the proportion of Type 2 diabetes patients with a HbA1c of less than 6.5%, and is set at the optimum achievable standard of 30%.

       “Malaysia successfully achieved the target for the quality assurance indicator, the first time since its introduction,” the report said.

       In 2019, the proportion of diabetic patients in the country who hit the target rate was only 27.64%.

       General practitioner Dr Lee Chee Wan said it was important to have strict benchmarks on diabetes care in order to manage the disease in the country.

       “Development of higher standards for diabetes care is a core element of coping with the global diabetes epidemic.

       “The improvement from 27.64% in 2019 to 30.7% in 2020 is minor, but encouraging,” he said.

       However, despite the improvement on a national scale, there are certain states which did not meet the target achievement rate of 30%.

       For instance, Kedah’s percentage of diabetic patients achieving the target blood sugar level is 23.23%, while this percentage is 24.17% in Johor.

       In comparison, this proportion is 38.82% in Pahang and 36.77% in Putrajaya.

       Moreover, the report also noted that clinical screenings of diabetic patients for certain other co-morbidities decreased in 2020.

       For instance, the number of electrocardiogram (ECG) tests conducted among diabetic patients dropped from 61.17% in 2019 to 53.53% in 2020.

       “Reduction was seen in the rate of screening for complications in 2020, which should be addressed moving forward,” the report said.Dr Lee said one possible explanation for the reduction in ECG tests may be due to disruptions and movement restrictions during the pandemic.

       The report, however, also noted several limitations to the survey, adding that it had to reduce its sample size significantly due to the pandemic although it tried to remain representative.

       Diabetes is a major disease plaguing the country, with the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 noting that nearly one in five Malaysian adults has the disease.