Prediabetes Awareness Campaign with the Subang Jaya Community
By Teoh Kah Woon
Group photo with Councilor Lee Jen Uyin, YB Michelle Ng, Mr Yang Chor Leong, PAWE members, representatives from Monash Malaysia (Miss Teoh Kah Woon, Dr Ng Choon Ming, Miss Rachel Goh) and local community members.
The sun shone brightly through the gently swaying tree leaves at the USJ 17 community garden; it was a beautiful Saturday morning on the 18th of February 2023. On this day, the representatives from School of Pharmacy of Monash University Malaysia collaborated with Pusat Aktiviti Warga Emas (PAWE) Subang Jaya to run a prediabetes awareness campaign in conjunction with the officiation of the USJ 17 Community Garden. This event was led by Miss Teoh Kah Woon*, a PhD candidate from the School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia. Kah Woon’s research focuses on the use of digital supported and pharmacist-assisted lifestyle modification program in the management of prediabetes.
Group photo of YB Michelle Ng with Monash Malaysia representatives, members from PAWE and MBSJ.
In this event, a team consisting of academics, students, and alumni, namely Prof Shaun Lee Wen Huey, Dr Ng Choon Ming, Miss Rosamund Koo Wei Xin, Miss Yoon Ee Ling, Miss Chow Ai Ling, Miss Rachel Goh Min Yuiann and Miss Wong Wei Qi volunteered to provide health checks and public education on prediabetes to the community. Attendees to the prediabetes awareness campaign were greeted with an information-filled prediabetes and nutrition talk delivered by Miss Teoh Kah Woon and Dr Ng Choon Ming. Subsequently, a free blood sugar check was provided to all participants, and interested participants were given the opportunity to join the PRIME prediabetes management program.
The event was graced by the presence of dignitaries including YB Wong Chen, the Member of Parliament for Subang, YB Michelle Ng, the Assemblywoman of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly for Subang Jaya, Puan Fatehah binti Zed, Coordinator from the Subang Jaya Social Welfare Department (JKM), Miss Lee Jen Uyin, Mr Chia Ye Ken, and Ar. Kamarul Hisham Bin Hj. Yep Hashim, Councillors of Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ).
Photo of YB Wong Chen with the volunteers from Monash University Malaysia.
Miss Rosamund Koo conducting a blood glucose test for YB Wong Chen, the Member of Parliament for Subang Jaya.
During the opening speech, YB Michelle Ng highlighted the importance of health screenings and early detection before prediabetes progresses into diabetes. She also shared her experience on gestational diabetes. YB Wong Chen and Councillor Miss Lee, too, participated in the prediabetes screening activity and had their blood sugar tested. While the campaign was ongoing, there were also many exciting activities prepared by the members of PAWE, such as a community garden officiation ceremony, community garden tour, games, ukulele and saxophone performances.
YB Michelle Ng, the Assemblywoman of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly for Subang Jaya, addressed the importance of diabetes prevention during her welcoming speech.
Malaysia is one of the most diabetic countries globally, where 1 in 5 adults was diagnosed with diabetes. The condition is further compounded by the fact that Malaysia is also the most obese country in the Southeast Asia. However, this is not the end of the tunnel, as diabetes can be prevented. The silver lining is that prediabetes is reversible with proper lifestyle modifications, or at the very least, diabetes can be prevented. It is, therefore of paramount importance that Malaysians are aware of prediabetes and are motivated to change their lifestyle habits to manage this condition.
Subang Jaya community dwellers getting their blood glucose tested by volunteers from Monash University Malaysia.
The PRIME program comes into the scene, aiming to educate people with prediabetes about their conditions and to impart essential skills to manage their weight and blood glucose levels through lifestyle modifications. The PRIME program involves the expertise of community pharmacists and the aid of a mobile app (PRIME app) to help people with prediabetes manage their health. PRIME is currently being offered in several community pharmacies in the Klang Valley and is actively recruiting participants. Interested participants can contact the PRIME research team at prime.info@monash.edu or +6011-35136166
*Miss Kah Woon Teoh is currently a PhD student under the supervision of Professor Shaun Lee at the School of Pharmacy.