Diabetes made me an invalid

NST: A retired senior police officer today described how, in five years, diabetes ravaged his body, leaving him unable to walk. And he is almost blind.
From his wheelchair, former superintendent of police Samad Daud, 65, told guests at the World Diabetes Day launch at the Kuching Waterfront that apathy and ignorance played a large part in reducing him from a "fit, tennis-player" to a blind invalid.
Diagnosed with the disease in 1985, he said he did nothing about it.
"I ate and drank just about everything. I would drink up to three glasses of Ribena-7UP after a game of tennis," he said.
In 2000, the first sign of his deteriorating health problem became apparent.
He had to undergo an eye operation as the disease had damaged the blood vessels. The operation was not a success. Now his right eye is blind and the other has blurred vision.
Two years later, the disease brought about a heart complication and Samad had major heart surgery. Fortunately, that was a success.
However, the following year the left leg had to be amputated at the knee because it was gangrenous.
Now, Samad has to rely on his wife to do most things. Samad's elder sister is also a diabetic.
It is estimated there are between 180,000 and 190,000 diabetics in Sarawak. The number is projected to reach 300,000 in 10 years.