There was no pain, no discomfort, and his condition did not even stop him from playing football. So it's no wonder Mr Bob Chua did not take it too seriously when he was diagnosed with diabetes in his 30s and continued swigging his cans of Coke.

Now, aged 60, he can no longer travel easily, has had to turn down dinner invitations and must put up with two thick needles being poked into his body three times a week - because his kidneys have failed.