share on
The initiative will focus on workplaces, where participating companies will work to reduce sugar consumption by offering healthier food options and increasing diabetes awareness among employees.
A new 'Sugar Smart Nation' initiative by Diabetes Singapore is set to help workplaces expand efforts in tackling the risk of diabetes among employees.
Speaking at Diabetes Singapore's World Diabetes Day Charity Gala Dinner 2025 on 14 November, where the launch took place, Rahayu Mahzam, Minister of State, Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) & Ministry of Health (MOH), acknowledged: "Diabetes is a serious health concern both globally and locally, with one in three Singaporeans being at risk of developing diabetes in their lifetime.
"Without proper management, diabetes can lead to serious health complications such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and lower limb amputations."
With this notion, MOS Rahayu shared that there has been a concerted effort to prevent diabetes and foster healthy living through various initiatives.
Under Sugar Smart Nation, participating companies will commit to lowering sugar intake by offering healthier food options and raising diabetes awareness among employees. This includes organising health expert talks and providing educational resources, all in close partnership with Diabetes Singapore.
MOS Rahayu said it "calls every segment of society to step up and play their part and complements HPB’s ongoing efforts to promote healthier lifestyle habits at workplaces."
In a Facebook post following the launch, she expressed her enthusiasm and support to the private and public sector partners who have stepped forward to create environments where healthier food options become easier choices.
Other initiatives by MOH to reduce the risk of diabetes
Nutri-Grade labelling
As affirmed by MOS Rahayu in her speech, the implementation of Nutri-Grade labelling requirements has led to healthier options, with median sugar levels for both pre-packaged and freshly prepared beverages declining:
- Pre-packaged beverages median sugar levels dropped from 5.8% down to 4.6% between 2019 to 2024.
- Freshley prepared beverages median sugar levels also decreased from 7.5% to 4.7% during the same time period.
To further improve the diets of Singapore residents, MOH will extend mandatory Nutri-Grade labelling measures and advertising prohibitions beyond beverages to include key contributors of sodium and saturated fat starting from mid-2027.
Healthy Workplace Ecosystems (HWEs)
With many Singaporeans spending a significant amount of their time in the office, MOH and the Health Promotion Board (HPB) have been working closely with various stakeholders, including employers, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), as well as union and association leaders, to engage employees.
To shape the environment and make healthier lifestyles more accessible, HPB works with landlords and developers to transform workplace clusters into HWEs.
These HWEs leverage shared building facilities to provide exercise sessions and educational workshops, as well as offer healthier food options.
This initiative is said to have proven effective, with more than 98 HWEs placed across the island since December 2024, bringing workplace health programmes to over 480,000 workers in these workplace clusters.
How Diabetes Singapore is helping those in the community to support patients with diabetes
Community partners such as Diabetes Singapore also support in enhancing health promotion through eye and foot screenings via mobile bus services and at its two centres, making it more convenient for patients with diabetes to have regular checks to prevent further complications.
Nurse educators also provide counselling, empowering individuals with diabetes with the knowledge and confidence to make lifestyle changes and manage their condition effectively.
In closing, MOS Rahayu drove home the message for enterprises to continue to do their part to publicly pledging to reduce sugar consumption at their workplaces, saying: "These companies are creating environments where healthier choices become easier choices.
"Their actions represent more than corporate social responsibility; they are a strategic investment in the health of our people and our nation."
READ MORE: MOM on how employers in Singapore can better support leaders’ and managers’ mental wellbeing
Lead image / MOS Rahayu's Facebook
share on
