Why these numbers are grouped

Heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes are among the leading causes of illness and death among adults in Indonesia, according to national health surveys. They share risk factors: raised blood pressure, high blood sugar, unhealthy blood fats, excess weight around the waist and tobacco use. When several of these appear together, doctors sometimes describe them as metabolic syndrome.

Because the early stage is usually silent, measurement is the only reliable way to know where you stand.

Nurse in a light blue uniform wrapping a blood pressure cuff around the upper arm of a seated middle-aged man in a bright clinic room
Blood pressure is quick to measure and available at most community health centres.

Commonly used reference values

Values below are widely used reference points for adults. Doctors interpret them in the context of age, other conditions and repeated readings, so they are not a self-diagnosis tool.

Reference values for adults, summarised from Indonesian and international guidance. Targets can differ for people with existing conditions.
Measurement Usually considered within range Worth discussing with a doctor
Blood pressure Below 120/80 mmHg Repeated readings of 140/90 mmHg or above, or readings in between that keep rising
Fasting blood glucose Below 100 mg/dL 100 to 125 mg/dL suggests prediabetes; 126 mg/dL or higher on repeat testing suggests diabetes
HbA1c Below 5.7 percent 5.7 to 6.4 percent suggests prediabetes; 6.5 percent or higher suggests diabetes
Triglycerides Below 150 mg/dL 150 mg/dL or higher, especially with a large waist
HDL cholesterol 40 mg/dL or higher for men Below 40 mg/dL
LDL cholesterol Target depends on personal cardiovascular risk Ask the doctor which target applies to you
Waist circumference Under 90 cm for Asian men 90 cm or more

Blood pressure

Blood pressure is written as two numbers: the pressure when the heart contracts (systolic) and when it relaxes (diastolic). Persistently high pressure strains the heart, arteries, kidneys and eyes. It is often called a silent condition because many people feel normal even with high readings.

For a reliable reading, sit quietly for five minutes, keep the arm at heart level and avoid caffeine or smoking for thirty minutes beforehand. A single high reading does not establish the diagnosis; doctors rely on repeated measurements, sometimes at home.

Blood sugar

Glucose is the body's main fuel. When the body cannot regulate it well, levels rise over time, which damages blood vessels and nerves. Prediabetes is a stage in which levels are above normal but below the diabetes threshold, and it is the stage at which lifestyle changes are most effective. Increased thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision and slow-healing wounds can appear later and should be assessed promptly.

Man in running shoes and a plain grey t-shirt jogging at a gentle pace along a paved path beside a lake in Jakarta at sunset
Regular moderate activity is associated with lower blood pressure and better blood sugar control.

Cholesterol and blood fats

Cholesterol travels in the blood attached to proteins. LDL is often called the “bad” type because high levels contribute to fatty deposits in artery walls; HDL helps carry cholesterol away. Triglycerides are another blood fat that rises with sugar, refined carbohydrates, alcohol and excess weight.

Tobacco and waist size

National surveys have found that around two in three adult men in Indonesia use tobacco in some form. Smoking is one of the strongest modifiable risks for heart attack, stroke and lung disease. Community health centres and some hospitals offer quit-smoking clinics, and speaking with a doctor about support improves the chance of success.

Waist circumference gives information about fat stored around internal organs, which is more closely linked to metabolic risk than weight alone. A tape measure placed at the level of the navel, after a normal breath out, is sufficient.

Seek urgent care for

Chest pain or tightness that spreads to the arm, jaw or back, sudden shortness of breath, sudden weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping or difficulty speaking. Call 119 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Habits associated with better numbers

  • Eating more vegetables, fruit, legumes and whole grains, and less salt, sugar and fried food (see nutrition).
  • Moving most days of the week (see movement).
  • Sleeping seven or more hours with a regular schedule.
  • Stopping tobacco and keeping alcohol modest or absent.
  • Attending routine screening, including at Posbindu PTM community checks.

Sources and further reading

  • Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, national guidelines on hypertension and diabetes management.
  • Indonesian Heart Association (PERKI) and PERKENI public education materials.
  • World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes fact sheets.
  • Ministry of Health, Basic Health Survey (Survei Kesehatan Indonesia).

This article is general information. See our medical disclaimer.