KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 – Sunway Medical Centre (SMC) recently organised a support group for its paediatric patients suffering from Type 1 diabetes.
The Paediatric Type 1 Diabetes Support Group held earlier this month involved 22 participants, including children with Type 1 diabetes, their parents and siblings.
During the support group, the parents of the patients attended an information sharing session with two doctors who are Type 1 diabetes patients themselves, which was facilitated by Dr Ch’ng Tong Wooi, consultant paediatrician and paediatric endocrinologist at Sunway Medical Centre.
The children aged between four and 11 were entertained with fun activities, including food and insulin injection stations, colouring activities, games, and light exercises, organised by a team of diabetes nurse educators and dietitians.
In its press release, SMC says that according to the National Database on Children and Adolescents with Diabetes, Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of childhood diabetes in Malaysia, accounting for 73 per cent to 77 per cent of all childhood diabetes cases.
Diabetes leads to serious health complications such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, vision loss, and problems with wound healing, said Dr Ch’ng.
The Paediatric Type 1 Diabetes Support Group is the first in a series of support groups organised by SMC. It will organise more of such events next year for patients and families.
