20 March 2008
A check-up saved her life and changed it
The Straits Times - pg H9

ST PHOTO: SHAHRIYA YAHAYA

Starting Anew
"The stroke was a lesson for me.  I don't want another one, so I'm very careful now about what I eat."
Mrs Mary Reatha Naidu (left), who now uses less oil when she cooks and no longer eats char kway teow.  Dr Theresa Yap (right) prescribed a cocktail of medications after a check-up.


WHEN Mrs Mary Reatha Naidu went to a clinic with abdominal pains last year, she had no idea that the check-up would probably end up saving her life.
Her physician, Dr Theresa Yap, discovered that the 55-year-old housewife had diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and put her on a cocktail of medications.

Two months later, in September last year, she suffered a minor stroke and spent two days in hospital.

But things could have been much worse, said Dr Yap, 56. "Thank God we found out early and gave her drugs. If she hadn't taken the medication at all, it could have been a more massive stroke."

Since then, Mrs Naidu, who was overweight, has lost 5kg and lowered her blood sugar and cholesterol to normal levels. She managed this with the help of her general practitioner (GP) and a programme run by public health group Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), which is designed to manage chronic diseases.

The programme, which began in August 2005, gives GPs four classes on caring for chronic diseases, and diabetic patients three free counselling sessions at the Diabetic Society of Singapore.

The programme has 134 GPs and 579 patients now. On average, patients' blood sugar drops to levels that are almost normal after six months to a year.

Dr Yap said that before joining the programme, she had problems organising nutrition classes for patients, and gathering them at her clinic for eye scans.

The courses from the Diabetic Society have helped by giving patients detailed advice on nutrition, foot care and eye checks, said Dr Yap.

Mrs Naidu, on her part, has learnt to exercise, use less oil when she cooks, and resist her favourite food, char kway teow.

She said: "I didn't know about all this before. I didn't bother. The stroke was a lesson for me. I don't want another one, so I'm very careful now about what I eat."