Winner and supporters including ACP Wan Azlan (left) next to Balachandran; Lin (centre in black) and Chia (right) next to Syed Shahril Anuar.
A community run for World Diabetes Day brought together over 2,000 participants to raise awareness about the illness in Subang Jaya, Selangor.
Diabetes Dash: Empowering Steps to Wellness by Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC), now in its fifth edition, attracted a diverse group of individuals.
Members of the public, professional runners, healthcare workers and SJMC staff took time out to show their commitment to tackling the diabetes epidemic.
The event also marked SJMC’s 39th anniversary.
Runners crossing the finish line at the 3km Fun Run.
In a press statement, the medical centre said diabetes continues to be a significant health concern in Malaysia, with one in six adults affected – roughly 3.6 million people, or 15.6% of the adult population.
If left unaddressed, these figures are projected to rise to seven million by 2025.
To combat this, SJMC’s multidisciplinary team of endocrinologists, diabetes educators and nurses provides early detection, education and ongoing support to help individuals take proactive steps towards better health.
“Lifestyle modification is the most effective strategy to prevent the progression of diabetes,” said SJMC consultant endocrinologist Dr Hew Fen Lee, who is also event committee advisor.
“This can be achieved through reducing daily calorie intake and engaging in regular physical activity such as running, brisk walking, swimming, or cycling for at least 150 minutes per week.”
SJMC chief executive officer Bryan Lin said, “Events like Diabetes Dash highlight the critical role regular exercise and a balanced diet play in diabetes prevention.
“The sense of community also plays a vital part in raising awareness and encouraging others to prioritise their health in the fight against this growing epidemic.”
The event featured multiple categories from a 3km fun run to competitive 10km and 21km races.
Among honoured guests were MBSJ councillors Balachandran Naicker and Ken Chia, as well as Asia OneHealthcare managing director and group chief executive officer Dr Chan Boon Kheng.
Also showing their support were senior officials from local authorities, including Subang Jaya district police chief Asst Comm Wan Azlan Wan Mamat and Subang Jaya fire station chief Syed Shahril Anuar Syed Sulaiman.
“Tackling diabetes requires not just medical intervention but also community-wide awareness and action,” Balachandran said.
“SJMC’s efforts to educate and empower individuals through events like this play an important role in promoting a healthier, more informed society.”
Chia said, “We commend SJMC for its invaluable contributions to the well-being of our community. Together, we can work towards a healthier future.”
SJMC also donated glucose monitoring devices worth RM19,000 to underprivileged diabetics through Action4Diabetes, a non-governmental organisation.
Diabetes Dash: Empowering Steps to Wellness offered participants the chance to compete for cash prizes totalling RM21,600.
Reinforcing its commitment to holistic health, SJMC sponsored entries for its employees and hosted running clinics to encourage staff wellness.
SJMC said the initiative complemented its other programmes such as Growing Well Together (GWT) on managing chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes.
