Beacon of hope in diabetes fight

Small community in Northeast, with medical help from ThaiHealth and Nakhon Phanom University, leads way in scheme that shows results in just six weeks, writes Chairith Yonpiam

- Chairith Yonpiam

Nestled in the heart of the Northeast, the small district of Phon Sawan may seem an unlikely battleground in the country’s fight against chronic illness.

But over the past two months, this quiet community has become a beacon of hope in a struggle against diabetes, a disease that is quietly costing the nation its health and a big share of its budget.

At the centre of this transformation is a pilot programme known as the “Urban Primary Healthcare Project: Proactive Diabetes Prevention and Control,” launched by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth) and a research team from Nakhon Phanom University.

Its aim is as ambitious as it is urgent: to prevent diabetes at the community level, reduce dependence on medication, and ease the growing financial burden on the universal healthcare system.

What began with just 62 volunteers in Ban Sao Lao, a four-village cluster in Phon Sawan district, is now being closely watched by public health experts across the country.

WHERE CHANGE BEGINS

Inside Ban Sao Lao, change is happening one meal, one walk and one group chat at a time.

"I didn’t even realise sticky rice was a form of sugar," said Amnuay Suwanmajo, one of the participants. “Now, I eat more vegetables and lean meat, and I've lost several kilogrammes already.”

Mr Amnuay’s story is far from unique. Among the 62 people enrolled in the project — 50 at risk of diabetes and 10 already diagnosed — clear signs of improvement emerged within just six weeks.

Residents reported weight loss, lower body mass index, and, perhaps most significantly, a shift in attitude towards diet and exercise.