More in Singapore seeking treatment and prevention for HIV

[linrx]

Rei Kurohi

SINGAPORE - More people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Singapore are being diagnosed, receiving treatment and achieving viral load suppression, said Senior Minister of State for Health Amy Khor on Saturday (Dec 8).

This reflects an improvement on Singapore's 90-90-90 results based on targets set by the United Nations, said Dr Khor at the Singapore Aids Conference 2018 held at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine auditorium.

The 90-90-90 targets state that by 2020, 90 per cent of people living with HIV should be diagnosed and aware of their condition, of which 90 per cent should be placed on antiretroviral treatment. Out of those who receive treatment, 90 per cent should achieve load suppression.

Viral load suppression is defined as having fewer than 200 copies of HIV per ml of a person's blood. If the load falls below 50 copies per ml, it is considered undetectable and untransmissable.

Based on the latest data from 2013 to 2015, the number of people with HIV in Singapore who know their status has risen from 69 per cent to 72 per cent. This figure is derived from a statistical estimate of the number of undiagnosed cases.

In the same period, the proportion of those diagnosed who received treatment increased from 77 per cent to 89 per cent, while the proportion of those who were treated and achieved viral suppression rose from 82 per cent to 94 per cent.

"Even though the numbers are encouraging, we can and must do more to help people living with HIV," said Dr Khor.

The number of people using a HIV prevention drug known as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has also increased, said Dr Benson Yeo, a consultant at the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control (DSC) Clinic.

From January to November this year, 231 people were given prescriptions for PrEP at the DSC Clinic, including 181 Singaporeans and 50 non-Singaporeans, said Dr Yeo.

This is more than twice the 99 cases that were seen for the whole of 2017.

PrEP, which first became available in Singapore in 2016, is a drug that has been shown to be highly effective in preventing HIV infection. In Australia, the total number of diagnoses fell from 365 in 2016, when PrEP was first implemented on a large scale, to 241 in 2017, said Monash University professor of public health Christopher Fairley.

In Singapore, new cases of HIV infection may also be on the decline. On Dec 1, the Ministry of Health said that there were 265 newly diagnosed cases of HIV in Singapore from January to October this year, down from 361 cases over the same period last year.

But Dr Yeo said that a significantly wider roll-out and uptake of PrEP is needed among high-risk groups, including men who have sex with men and men who frequently visit sex workers, in order to have a greater impact on HIV infection rates.

Several barriers still remain before Singapore can achieve its goal of eliminating HIV by 2030, he added.

Truvada, the brand of PrEP available here, is still expensive for many patients, with a month's dosage costing about $400.

Generic versions of PrEP can be imported for personal use at about one-tenth of the cost, but only up to three months' supply at once. Clinics like the DSC Clinic offer patients guidance on how to find reliable suppliers online, said Dr Yeo.

Stigma and a lack of understanding about HIV also remain key issues.

Prof Fairley said that PrEP use in Australia was correlated with lower rates of condom use, which led to an increase in the incidence of other sexually-transmitted infections which PrEP does not prevent.

"Safe sex practices including use of condom remains a cornerstone of HIV prevention even with PrEP use," said Dr Yeo.

Source: Straits Times http://str.sg/oBdq

[IAmAwesome]

Originally Posted by linrx

In Singapore, new cases of HIV infection may also be on the decline

Well thats a rather good news actually as it probably shows that people are more aware of safe sex practices these days

[sammyboyfor]

Diabetes has far worse consequences compared to HIV.

However while many are terrified of catching HIV they pay absolutely no attention to the risks associated with high GI diets.

High sugar intake is only part of the equation. It's the high consumption of white rice coupled with lack of exercise which contributes significantly to this health criss.

[TreeTrunks]

Originally Posted by sammyboyfor

high consumption of white rice

Maybe this could also be due to the society we live in where rice is consumed for almost every meal there is

[sammyboyfor]

Originally Posted by TreeTrunks

Maybe this could also be due to the society we live in where rice is consumed for almost every meal there is

https://www.healthline.com/health/di.../diabetes-rice

Can Eating Rice Affect My Diabetes?

Diabetes and diet

Having diabetes requires you to be vigilant about your diet and exercise habits. You have to watch what you eat every day to ensure that your blood sugar doesn’t rise to an unhealthy level.

Monitoring the carbohydrate count and glycemic index (GI) score of the foods you eat can make controlling your diabetes easier. The GI ranks food based on how they can affect your blood sugar.

If you aren’t tracking your diet, diabetes can cause more serious health problems. This includes cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, or foot infections.

Rice is rich in carbohydrates and can have a high GI score. If you have diabetes, you may think that you need to skip it at the dinner, but this isn’t always the case. You can still eat rice if you have diabetes. You should avoid eating it in large portions or too frequently, though. Many types of rice exist, and some types are healthier than others.

What the research says

There are risks to having too much rice in your diet. A study in the British Medical Journal found that people who eat high levels of white rice may have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This means that if you have prediabetes, you should be especially conscientious about your rice intake.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s generally safe for you to enjoy rice in moderation. Make sure you’re aware of the carbohydrate count and GI score for the type of rice you wish to eat. You should aim to eat between 45 and 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal. Some varieties of rice have a lower GI score than others.

The Create Your Plate method used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is a good way to ensure your meals are portioned well. Your dinner plate should have 25 percent protein, 25 percent grains and starchy foods, and 50 percent non-starchy vegetables. You can also include a serving of fruit or dairy on the side, but you should factor them into your meal if you’re counting carbohydrates.

What types of rice are OK to eat?

Safe to eat:

basmati rice
brown rice
wild rice

The type of rice is important when selecting what to eat. It’s better to eat rice that packs a nutritional punch. Brown rice, wild rice, and long-grain white rice include more fiber, nutrients, and vitamins than short-grain white rice. You should also check the GI score of your choice.

Short-grain white rice has a high GI, which means it’s 70 or higher, so you should avoid it if possible. It contains little nutritional value when compared to other forms of rice and starches.

Basmati, brown, and wild rice have GI scores in the moderate range. They have a GI of 56 to 69. These are generally OK to eat in moderation. Cooking times can alter GI score, so be careful not to overcook your rice.

You can balance your pick with low-GI foods, including protein and non-starchy vegetables. You should also make sure you only eat a small portion of rice. Just 1/2 cup of rice has 15 grams of carbohydrates.

What alternative grains can I try?

Rather than relying on rice as a staple at mealtime, experiment with other types of grains. They can help you manage your diabetes and stick to your healthy diet. Most have extra nutritional content, too. These may satisfy you longer than more processed starches can.

These grains have a low GI score:

• rolled and steel-cut oats
• barley
• bulgur
• quinoa
• millet
• buckwheat

The bottom line

People with any type of diabetes can consume rice in small quantities. Maintaining a balanced diet is key. If you have prediabetes, you should also watch your intake of rice and try to maintain a healthy diet and exercise regularly.

[kurtis]

despite having lower mortality rate than diabetes, the fact that it is mainly transmitted by sexual contacts, doesn't remove the stigma that comes with it.

on most employment or govt health screening form, you don't see diabetes listed as part of the screening test.

[luckyboiboi]

I had removed rice intake for dinner since last month. Felt I'm better health actually.