KUALA LUMPUR: Actor Ako Mustapha admits that his diabetes became out of control recently when he simply followed friends' advice to try alternative and "natural supplements".
That and coupled with lack of right information about diabetes mellitus had also driven him to stop taking prescribed medications from the hospital, according to a news report yesterday.
"Ever since I was diagnosed with diabetes, I never got the right information about it from the appropriate channel, but rather, I listened to friends who suggested various supplements and natural remedy including drinking juice of peria katak (a smallish variety of bitter gourd)," said Ako, 51.
"Not knowing better, I simply followed their suggestions and my health slowly deteriorated and two weeks ago the glucose levels in my blood shot up," said the actor who was rushed to Kuala Lumpur Hospital early this month.
Ako added that before he was hospitalised, he found it difficult to focus on work as well as easily felt lethargic and sleepy.