EXCESSIVE sweetness may lead to a bitter end - diabetes, a disease that is causing more deaths a year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. And two out three people with diabetes eventually die from heart disease or stroke.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimates that some 285 million people worldwide will live with diabetes next year. They include 1.84 million Malaysians, aged from 20 to 79, or 6.8 per cent of the population. IDF also predicts that close to 24,000 Malaysians will die of the disease next year.

Malaysians are also getting diabetes at an earlier age while a third with diabetes are not aware they have the disease.

Malaysia ranks 17th highest out of 216 countries, with a comparative prevalence rate of 11.6 per cent. The country with the highest rate is Nauru, with a third (30.9 per cent) of its 8,800 population affected the disease.

In conjunction with World Diabetes Day yesterday, Malaysians should note that their favourite cup of teh tarik (350ml) contains about six teaspoonfuls of sugar. The recommended daily intake of sugar is 50gm or 10 teaspoonfuls.