The Big Picture: Diabetes in Malaysia

Diabetes is a growing challenge for our nation, but understanding the facts is the first step toward a healthier life.

The numbers are closer to home than you think

Diabetes in Malaysia
Malaysian adults have diabetes
1 in 5
Malaysian adults have diabetes
2 in 5
Elderly aged 60+ are affected
4.75M
People living with diabetes.
The Three Highs in Malaysia
3 in 4
Elderly have hypertension or hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
68%
Elderly living with two of the three highs
30%
Elderly have all three conditions

💡 Tip: Use the buttons below to switch between different views of the data.

Explore the Situation in Your Area

Every state faces different hurdles. Find your home on the map to see local prevalence and discover how we can support each other.

🗺️

Map colour shows diabetes prevalence. Tap any state to see blood pressure and cholesterol data too.

Year:

Low Prevalence (<7%)
Medium Prevalence (7-14%)
High Prevalence (>14%)

👇 Tap a state for more information

Highest Rate

21.7%

(Perak)

Lowest Rate

8.8%

(Sabah)

For 2015 data, Labuan prevalence is represented by the pooled Sabah/Labuan regional data due to reporting constraints in the original NHMS datasets.

Health in Our Communities

Data from Malaysia National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), 2023

Our cultural backgrounds and traditions shape us. Understanding these unique trends helps us provide better care for our elders across all communities.

👆 Tap any bar or label to learn more

Did you know

The three highs rarely travel alone

Diabetes + Blood pressure

High blood sugar quietly damages blood vessel walls over time. This forces your heart to work harder, which is why 1 in 3 people with diabetes also develop high blood pressure.

Diabetes + Cholesterol

Diabetes changes how the body processes fats. Even without a change in diet, it can cause cholesterol to build up in the bloodstream, silently raising the risk of heart disease.

Good news

Managing one condition helps the others too. Eating better and moving more can lower blood sugar, reduce blood pressure, and improve cholesterol all at the same time.

These numbers represent real people who deserve support and accurate information. This is why understanding diabetes matters.

Start your journey

Knowledge is step one. Action is step two.

You've seen the numbers. Now take the first step — scan a restaurant menu and discover healthier choices that work for you.

Scan a menu →