Saturday (Nov 14) is World Diabetes Day.

It is a reminder of the grim facts and serious problem that we are facing, not only in Singapore but in many countries globally.

We declared a war on diabetes in 2016 and, four years on, we are still fighting this war and talking about you.

And here is why we should be: In Singapore, an estimated 400,000 people aged 18 and above have diabetes. A third of them do not know they have the condition.

If nothing is done, the number of diabetics in Singapore could rise to one million in 2050.

It is also evident that you, diabetes, cause serious and irreversible kidney failure to someone who embraces you. 

You have claimed many lives when they did not understand, monitor and manage you properly. You remain the main cause of kidney failure.

High blood sugar makes the kidneys work harder and may damage the tiny filtering units, known as nephrons, inside the kidneys over a long period.

The kidneys will start to leak protein (albumin) into the urine instead of keeping it in the blood. 

The damage is permanent and worsens with time, leading to more fluid and toxic waste staying in the blood instead of being passed out into the urine.

And you do not stop there. After wreaking havoc on the kidneys, the poorly functioning organs are unable to regulate blood pressure adequately in the body. This leads to high blood pressure in those with diabetic chronic kidney disease.

You have forced many people into a new normal in their day-to-day living.

Diabetes-induced kidney failure compromises not only an individual's quality of life but that of his or her loved ones.

The cost of diabetes to Singapore is expected to soar beyond S$2.5 billion with the rising number of diabetics. To combat this terrifying future, many tools, technologies, drugs and resources are being put forward to take you on.

Today is not about you. It is about hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans living with or supporting someone with diabetes, to raise awareness about the disease, and its dire and lifelong consequences.

In the past, you would sneak up on unsuspecting individuals because many people thought of diabetes as simply an issue of high sugar levels.

You are difficult to spot. Many are unaware of you and those who are aware that they are afflicted with the disease feel fine, so they do not take you seriously.

While kidney failure cannot be reversed, diabetes can be prevented or controlled.

We know that managing you, diabetes, a chronic condition that requires long-term care, has not been easy. 

But winning small daily battles, such as swapping our daily cup of kopi for kopi siew dai (coffee with less sugar), should never be underestimated. We will persevere in our attempt to fight kidney failure and keep you at bay. 

Lastly, here’s to you — for the progress we have made against you. We are hopeful for a future without you.

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