Fight vs diabetes hinges on lifestyle change, says DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) has warned of a future generation of Filipinos who are diabetics if Filipinos would not change their lifestyle.

Dr. Ernie Vera, head of the DOH’s Degenerative Disease Division, said Filipinos are no longer keen on exercising and that many are into unhealthy diets of fast food fare that are high in cholesterol and sugar.

"We don’t even walk. We always take a ride even at a short distance. And aside from that, we have become accustomed to eating in fast food outlets that do not offer balanced meals," he told The STAR.

This week, the DOH is celebrating Diabetes Awareness Week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines diabetes as a "chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces."

Vera said the fast-paced life now is also causing stress among Filipinos, especially those in urban areas.

"Now, even women are getting hooked on smoking... These are the risk factors for diabetes. We really have to do something now if we don’t want to develop diabetes," he said.

He said diabetics are prone to cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure and other complications because an increased sugar level damages bodily systems, especially the nerves and the blood vessels.

WHO records show that in 2000, there were 171 million diabetes cases worldwide, and this is expected to increase to 366 million by 2030.

WHO placed the number of Filipino diabetics at 2.7 million in 2000, and expects this to soar to 7.7 million by 2030.

Vera said majority of diabetic Filipinos do not even know about their condition because they do not visit their doctors regularly, and only do so when complications start to set in.

He said many Filipinos are also unaware of the symptoms of diabetes like frequent urination, weight loss and constant thirst. In a later stage, diabetes could cause blindness and impotence.

While diabetes is not curable, Vera said it can be controlled through a "healthy lifestyle."

"We can prevent complications by exercising and eating the right food. But we have to start now. We should observe a healthy lifestyle," he said.