SPEECH BY MR TAN KIAT HOW, SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MDDI & MOH, AT THE WORLD DIABETES DAY FESTIVAL

Dr Bee Yong Mong, President of Diabetes Singapore

Dr Daphne Gardner, Chair of the World Diabetes Day Community Festival Organising Committee

Ms Priscilla Gan, Executive Director of Diabetes Singapore

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen,

1.             Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to join you today to commemorate World Diabetes Day. This year’s theme, ‘Diabetes and the Workplace’, reminds us that creating healthier environments requires collective effort across all aspects of our lives.

Tackling the Diabetes Challenge and Embracing Healthy Lifestyles

2.             Diabetes affects roughly one in eleven adults in Singapore. While the prevalence has dropped slightly over the past five years, the diabetes prevalence in Singapore is higher than many other Asian countries. Poor control of diabetes may lead to serious health complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputations, and we see so many of these in our community, in our midst. The encouraging news is that Type 2 diabetes — which represents the majority of diabetes cases — is largely preventable and controllable through healthy lifestyle modifications.

3.             A healthy lifestyle forms the backbone of diabetes prevention and management. For instance, maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and timely screenings can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. These are powerful tools that each of us have in the fight against diabetes.

4.             The Ministry of Health (MOH) recognises that creating an environment conducive for healthy living is both an individual as well as a collective effort.

The Role of Healthy Diets

5.             Take our diets for example. Diet plays such a crucial role in preventing as well as managing diabetes. Some of our favourite dishes and beverages may be high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat, increasing our risk of developing diabetes and making its management more challenging for those living with the condition.

6.             This is why MOH’s strategy is to make healthy eating an easier choice in our busy urban environment. You may be familiar with the Healthier Choice Symbol and more recently, the Nutri-Grade labelling for beverages. Following the success of industry reformulation and increased market share of lower-sugar options through mandatory Nutri-Grade labelling and advertising prohibitions, MOH will extend these Nutri-Grade measures to include key contributors of sodium and saturated fat in the retail setting from mid-2027. So we are expanding the scope of the Nutri-Grade measures, building on the success of earlier initiatives, so that everybody can still enjoy our favourite hawker food, our favourite local cuisines, while maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

7.             We are also encouraging healthier choices through public education and promotional campaigns, such as the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) Eat, Drink, Shop Healthy Challenge. Whether going for lunch with colleagues or shopping with the family, you can earn rewards on the Healthy 365 app when purchasing healthier food, drinks and groceries from about 2,000 supporting outlets.  

Physical Activity

8.             Another important aspect of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is regular physical activity. Each week, there are about 2,000 activities organised by HPB which are open to all. You may have seen kickboxing and zumba sessions taking place in your neighbourhood, and I understand that such community programmes draw about 48,000 participants weekly. You can search up these activities through the Healthy 365 app, and if you prefer to exercise in your own space, the app also has virtual Zoom sessions and other self-directed programmes. There is something for everyone, from programmes such as Steady Lah, which helps our seniors to improve balance and strength, to the Active Family Programme, where children can participate in fun activities such as archery and tag rugby for free.   

Diabetes and the Workplace

9.             This year’s World Diabetes Day is apt, especially in Singapore where the bulk of our day is spent at work. Workplaces therefore have tremendous potential to support diabetes prevention and management.

10.          With this in mind, the HPB Workplace Outreach Wellness Programme partners with employers to bring physical and mental well-being programmes, health screenings, nutrition workshops and health coaching sessions to the workplace.   Whether through healthier food options in office environments or carving out time and space for physical activity, every workplace can become a beacon for health promotion.

11.          To further strengthen our diabetes prevention efforts, I am pleased to note that Diabetes Singapore is launching the "Sugar Smart Nation" initiative, where participating companies will commit to reducing sugar consumption at their workplaces by offering healthier food choices and raising their employees’ awareness of diabetes, working in close partnership with Diabetes Singapore. So next time you have your Kopi-O, remember – better to have siu dai. Or better yet, kosong.

Early Detection Through Timely Screening

12.          While healthy lifestyle choices reduce diabetes risk, regular health screening remains essential for early detection and appropriate follow up management. According to the National Population Health Survey 2024, approximately one in three individuals with diabetes in the 40 to 49 age group live with the condition without knowing it. This is a very staggering statistic – one in three individuals with diabetes in the age group of 40 – 49 live with the condition without knowing it. This emphasises the importance of regular screening for diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol at age 40. To make screening more accessible, we have made it fully-subsidised for eligible enrolees under Healthier SG. I encourage all Singaporeans aged 40 and over to enrol with Healthier SG, to receive support from your family doctor on personalised lifestyle recommendations and to enjoy special subsidies at your enrolled clinic.

13.          Younger adults are not safe from diabetes either. More than one in four individuals with diabetes aged 30 to 39 do not know that they have diabetes. Those who are between 18 to 39 years old can assess their risk of having diabetes using the free online Diabetes Risk Assessment tool on HealthHub. I think it is important to correct a lot of these misconceptions – that I’m young, I feel active, I feel fit, I feel invincible, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have the risk of actually living with diabetes. So early screening, preventive health actions, play such an important role in our health. Individuals identified to be at higher risk for diabetes are eligible for subsidised screening and follow-up consultations under Healthier SG Screening. So that is preventive, early detection through early screening.

Living Well with Diabetes

14.          For those living with diabetes, good control and appropriate screening is essential, and I will also encourage for those to have earlier prevention, to prevent and identify complications early. Your Healthier SG family doctor will advise you to undergo regular subsidised eye, foot and kidney screenings whilst supporting you in managing your conditions. So early interventions prevent unintended and more severe complication with that follow-up, and these screenings are recommended to be done at least once a year or as recommended by the doctor, to detect any issues early and prevent severe complications like blindness, leg amputations and kidney failure.

15.          Another key prong in our approach to manage diabetes is patient empowerment, providing individuals with knowledge and tools to manage their condition effectively. The National Diabetes Reference Materials, available in four official languages on HealthHub, offers easy-to-understand guidance on healthy eating, physical activity, and emotional well-being for patients, caregivers, and care teams.

Moving Forward Together

16.          As we look towards the future, our commitment to fight diabetes remains strong. Healthier SG further integrates preventive care into our healthcare system, where diabetes detection and management continue to be key focus areas.

17.          However, as earlier mentioned it is a “we first” society, and collectively how can we do this as a community? The government efforts alone are not sufficient. We need every individual, family, employer, and community organisation to play their part. Community partners like Diabetes Singapore play a vital role in health promotion and diabetes care. Diabetes Singapore conducts educational talks, diabetes management workshops, mobile and centre-based diabetic eye and foot screenings, and peer support groups for individuals and families affected by diabetes. Nurses in their diabetes centres also provide advice on diabetes management. I thank Diabetes Singapore and all our community partners for your significant contributions to our nation’s health. Please do give them a round of applause, thank you so much for your effort, dedication and contribution.

Closing

18.          The World Diabetes Day Festival today exemplifies collective ownership and serves as an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to learn about diabetes prevention and management through healthy lifestyles.

19.          Let us support one another in making positive lifestyle changes. Whether it involves choosing the stairs over the lift, opting for unsweetened or lower-sugar beverages, or encouraging a friend to attend their health screening, every action matters.

20.          Together, we can build a Healthier Singapore for generations to come. Thank you.