Huge medical breakthrough helps with diabetes and weight loss

I know some people who will avoid, for dear life, any sugary soda or any stuff with refined sugar or refined grains or carbs, or anything that could cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels, because they have diabetes (or maybe borderline diabetes). If not yourself, he/she could be your own sweet friend, a family member, or someone near or dear to you.  The alarming bitter truth is, there are 3.2 million Filipinos diagnosed with diabetes as of 2013 and the number is expected to double by 2030. Statistics show that seven out of 10 Filipinos with Type 2 Diabetes are overweight, further compounding the risk for developing complications.

A press conference held recently at Edsa Shangri-La Hotel tackled this weighty topic and announced a recent medical breakthrough that could help Filipinos with Type 2 Diabetes control their blood sugar, manage their weight, and live a better (or sweeter?) lifestyle.

A team of experts from AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical company, answers some oft-asked questions on diabetes:

Philippine STAR: Diabetes, considered a lifestyle disease, has been on the upswing in recent times. What is it about today’s lifestyle that contributes to diabetes?

ASTRAZENECA: Yes, excess calories and a sedentary lifestyle lead to obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

Is there something about the Filipino diet that contributes to the increased incidence of diabetes in the country? ?

Not the traditional Filipino foods but adopting western foods and habits like high consumption of fast foods, foods high in saturated fat, increase in consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (high-fructose corn syrup) may lead to obesity and diabetes.

There’s also such a thing as juvenile diabetes. What should parents do once they find out their children have diabetes? ?

Juvenile diabetes was already dropped as one of the classifications of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) since it connotes type 1 DM. The more appropriate term is T2DM in children. These are DM in the pediatric age group that phenotypically present as T2DM such as overweight or obese with frequent signs of insulin resistance such as acanthosis nigricans. ?Parents should encourage lifestyle change within the family. Encourage outdoor exercises and activities rather than just playing games in computers. Encourage healthy diet and weight loss, if necessary.

How do you know you’re diabetic? ?

Diagnosis is based on blood tests. The classical signs and symptoms of DM, such as polyuria, polydipsia, and unexplained weight loss, are non-specific for DM and not all diabetics may have these symptoms (only in DM with chronic very high blood glucose levels like 250 and/or above). There are tools for the diagnosis of DM such as FBS, RBS+ classic S&S of DM/ Hba1c, and 75 OGTT.

Once you find out you’re diabetic, what should you do? ?

You need to see a doctor or DM specialist to be guided for proper management.

Are there measures to prevent diabetes as early as childhood? ?

Yes, people at risk for T2DM (age, genetics, etc.) should watch their weight, indulge in a healthy diet, and avoid being sedentary. It is also important to monitor blood glucose regularly.

What about adult diabetes — how does one slow down the progress of the disease? ?

Although the natural history of T2DM is a progressive one because of the progressive beta cell dysfunction over time, it is important to keep blood glucose level normal or near normal as much as possible by adhering to lifestyle change and medications.

What are the worse consequences of diabetes that a diabetic should watch out for?

The most common cause of mortality among diabetics is still cardiovascular events. Other complications such as vision loss, nerve damage, and kidney failure are all debilitating and money-draining complications.

How can AstraZeneca’s new medicine help people with diabetes?

DR. CHINNIE TAN-PINEDA, AstraZeneca medical and regulatory affairs director: Despite all the available treatment options, people with diabetes are still struggling to control their blood sugar level and achieve their treatment goals. Dapagliflozin is a first-in-its-kind medicine that works in the kidneys by removing excess sugar and its associated calories through the urine. Clinical studies have shown that this can reduce blood sugar levels with the additional benefit of weight loss and decrease in blood pressure. With this new medicine, physicians can offer individualized therapy to help patients manage their diabetes better.