Low awareness level and neglecting to check their feet daily have resulted in many diabetes patients facing complications like feet infections and ulcers, to the extent of requiring amputations.

Putrajaya Hospitals's consultant endocrinologist, Dr Nurain Mohd Noor said most diabetes patients were more knowledgeable about heart complications or stroke but not realising that feet care was very important for them.

"I always remind diabetes patients that when they wake up in the morning, not to look at their face first in the mirror but at their feet. This is because if there's something on your face, people will tell you but not if it's on your feet, so you need to check your own feet always."

She said this when met after the launching of the national-level 'Feet Care for Diabetes Patients' programme by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya, here, Monday.

Dr Hilmi, in his speech, said currently it was estimated that 3.6 million adult Malaysians were having diabetes and since 2004, the Health Ministry had set up 622 Diabetes Resource Centres (DRCs) at 73 hospitals and 549 health clinics across the country.

"The DRCs provide information on comprehensive healthcare for diabetes patients including counselling on suitable diet, taking medication in the form of tablets or injections. monitoring of blood sugar levels, eye check-up and and feet care.

"The number of DRCs will be increased from time to time to cover 146 government hospitals and 1,000 health clinics nationwide. A diabetes nurse educator (DNE) is placed at each DRC to educate diabetes patients on the disease and to date, there are 727 DNEs," he said.

-- BERNAMA