Diabetes patients getting younger

CEBU, Philippines – A health official yesterday warned that diabetes patients are already getting younger as five percent of those who had acquired the disease are aged 20 years old and below.

Dr. Renan S. Dungo, press relations officer of Diabetes Philippines- Cebu Chapter, said that obesity, which resulted from unhealthy lifestyle, is one of the major risk factors of diabetes.

Dungo, who was one of the invited speakers during the regular Kapihan sa PIA yesterday, however explained that while five percent of the diabetes patients are aged less than 20 years old, majority of the patients still belong to the 45 and above age group.

He likewise emphasized that the number of diabetic patients who are below 30 years old are increasing with 10 to 15 percent.

According to the website of the Department of Health, diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not adequately produce insulin.  It also happens when the body cannot properly use insulin.

There are two types of diabetes: insulin dependent diabetes (Type 2) and non-insulin dependent diabetes (Type 1).

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the receptors on cells in the body that normally respond to the action of insulin fail to be stimulated by it - this is known as insulin resistance. In response to this more insulin may be produced, and this over-production exhausts the insulin-manufacturing cells in the pancreas.

This type of diabetes could also be caused by insufficient insulin or the insulin that is available may be abnormal and therefore doesn’t work properly.

Type 2 diabetes may occur due to increasing age, obesity and physical inactivity.

Meanwhile, Type 1 diabetes may develop when the cells in the pancreas that makes insulin are destroyed, causing a severe lack of insulin. This is thought to be the result of the body attacking and destroying its own cells in the pancreas - known as an autoimmune reaction.

Diabetes could cause blindness, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, wounds that would not heal and impotency.  

Like hypertension, smoking and lipid problems, Dungo said diabetes is also considered as one of the major risk factors for any diseases. He cited obesity to be the “mother of all diseases” as it can promote early hypertension, early problems with cholesterol and even a risk factor for malignancy.

The Department of Health will be observing the “Diabetes Awareness Week” starting on July 27 to August 2. (THE FREEMAN)