Week 1: Introduction of the sugar detector

Diabetes mellitus is now a major global public health problem. The incidence and prevalence of diabetes are escalating especially developing and newly industrialized nations. The estimated number of 80 million sufferers in 1990 is expected to double by the year 2000. In Asia alone, it is estimated that the total number of diabetes could reach more than 138 million.

World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes 2 major clinical forms, namely Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) and Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM). About 90% of all cases of diabetes in developed and developing countries are NIDDM, primarily found in adults more than 30 years of age. The category of Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) includes those whose glucose tolerance test is beyond the boundaries of normality as defined by 1985 WHO Study Group. When tested 5 to 10 years after diagnosis of IGT, about one-third progresses to diabetes. Exceptionally high prevalence is seen in population who have changed from traditional to modern lifestyle. This difference in rates reflects the underlying behavioral environmental and social factors such as diet, level of obesity and physical activity. The lowest rates are often found in rural areas within the country of origin where people live closer to their traditional lifestyles.

Stated in fact sheet of visual impaired statistic by Second National Health and Morbidity survey, Malaysia has the most number of overweight and obese people in Asia, obesity is a main cause of diabetes 54% of the adult population is either obese or overweight, compared to only 24.1% 10 years ago. As a result 7 out of 10 Malaysian adults suffer from chronic diseases. High sugar intake (which also causes obesity) among Malaysians is one of the contributing factors to the high incidence of diabetes. We consume 26 teaspoons of sugar a day and are the eighth highest sugar users in the world.

The proposed project of sugar detector in drinking water to make human realize how important to community to know how much glucose that contains in daily life drinking water, because sugar can make human get diabetics. However, the sugar detector in water are realistic to show the sugar level in the drinking water such as mineral water or soft drink and drinking juices. Its also good for obesity people to minimize the sugar level in blood because sugar can turn into fat.