Diabetes is often the end result of long-term metabolic dysfunction rather than a sudden condition.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s diabetes challenge is no longer just a medical concern, but increasingly a national issue affecting productivity, quality of life and long-term economic resilience, according to a health and performance expert.
The discussion has gained urgency following the Diabetes Malaysia Conference 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, which brought together healthcare professionals and industry stakeholders to address prevention and management strategies.
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National data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 shows that 15.6% of Malaysian adults are living with diabetes, while 5.9% have elevated blood glucose levels without being aware of their condition. The survey also found that 54.4% of adults are overweight or obese.
Local transformation specialist and founder of Badcave Training Facility, Murad Zaidi said the issue often begins long before diagnosis, warning that many Malaysians only seek help when the condition has already progressed significantly.
“In my experience, the diabetes conversation in Malaysia often starts too late,” he said.
He explained that by the time individuals seek intervention, many are already dealing with insulin resistance, chronic fatigue, poor sleep, central obesity and medication dependence.
Murad said diabetes is often the end result of long-term metabolic dysfunction rather than a sudden condition.
“People think diabetes begins when the diagnosis comes. It doesn’t. The diagnosis is often just the moment the problem is finally detected,” he said.
He added that early warning signs are often overlooked, including weight gain around the abdomen, post-meal fatigue, brain fog, cravings and poor recovery.
Murad said this pattern is particularly common among urban professionals and business owners who operate under sustained stress while neglecting sleep, nutrition and physical activity.
He argued that diabetes should be treated not only as a healthcare issue but also as a broader national productivity concern.
“If your blood sugar is unstable, your sleep is poor, your energy is inconsistent and your body composition is deteriorating, it affects how you think, how you lead, how you work and how you show up at home,” he said.
Murad also cautioned against focusing solely on weight loss as a solution, saying that metabolic health requires a more comprehensive approach involving sleep, stress, recovery, movement and nutrition.
He said many individuals only recognise the seriousness of the issue once they understand how insulin resistance affects energy, mood, cognitive performance and long-term health risks.
“The problem with diabetes and insulin resistance is that they don’t always hit you like an injury. They creep up on you,” he said.
Murad called for a shift in focus from treatment to early intervention, stressing that individuals with poor sleep, high stress, sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits are already at risk.
He also emphasised that meaningful change requires personal responsibility alongside public health efforts.
“No doctor, no trainer and no supplement can outwork a lifestyle that is breaking the body every single day,” he said.
