TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Health and Welfare said nearly half of Taiwan’s roughly 100,000 people undergoing dialysis are linked to diabetes, and individuals with diabetes face about 11 times the risk of kidney disease compared with the general population.
At a press conference on Monday marking World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14, MJ Health Research Foundation Chair Shih Yao-tang (石曜堂) said Taiwan has about 2.8 million people living with diabetes, and the number continues to rise each year. He urged those with the condition to manage their health to reduce the risk of kidney disease, per CNA.
Shih said diabetes can affect kidney function early. As blood sugar levels rise, the kidneys work harder to filter the blood, and the condition can worsen quickly without timely treatment.
National Health Insurance Administration Deputy Director-General Parng I-ming (龐一鳴) said annual medical expenses related to diabetes and kidney disease total about NT$100 billion (US$3.17 billion). To address this, the agency has launched an integrated care program to help patients manage blood sugar and kidney function.
Taipei Medical University President Wu Mai-szu (吳麥斯) said Taiwan’s 90,000 dialysis patients each consume around 74,000 liters of water and 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. To reduce medical wastewater, the ministry is promoting peritoneal dialysis, which uses the patient’s abdominal lining as a natural filter to remove excess fluid, balance electrolytes, and clear waste and toxins from the blood.
Taiwan Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology Chair Samuel Chen (陳宏麟) said diabetes is becoming more common among younger people in Taiwan. Around 40% of people with the condition develop kidney disease, with other complications including heart attack, stroke, and eye disease.
Chen said diabetes management requires more than medication, calling for a comprehensive approach that includes diet, exercise, and regular check-ups.
Tiffany Tseng (曾錙翎), former deputy director of the Industrial Technology Research Institute’s biomedical research department, said relying only on estimated glomerular filtration rate — a blood test measuring kidney function — may miss early signs of kidney disease in people with diabetes. Including tests for the urine protein-to-creatinine ratio can improve screening.
