Diabetes: Sweet victory

MANILA, Philippines – Patients suffering from diabetes continue to rise as more and more people are diagnosed every day. According to the World Health Organization, the number of people with the disease has increased from 30 million to over 230 million in the last two decades and is expected to reach 350 million in less than 20 years. In the Philippines alone, an estimated four million Filipinos are affected by the disease, with 500 Filipinos being diagnosed every day, according to the Department of Health. And the numbers threaten to rise if action is not taken immediately to educate people around the world about the risks this disease poses.

In a recent forum at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, medical experts shared basic information on diabetes and what people should do when confronted with the disease. In her presentation, Dr. Rowena De Jesus, endocrinologist at Asian Hospital, explained that diabetes mellitus, which literally means “sweet urine,” is characterized by high blood sugar or glucose levels (hyperglycemia). “This is caused by insufficient production of insulin or the inability of cells to use insulin (or insulin resistance), which is needed by glucose to enter the cells and convert it into energy,” added Dr. De Jesus.

There are two major types of diabetes mellitus: type 1, which is characterized by no insulin production; and type 2, the more common type of diabetes, which is a combination of insufficient insulin production and insulin resistance. 

People who are more at risk for diabetes are those with a family history of the disease and those who are 45 years old and above. Ethnicity is also a risk factor, like those who live in the Pacific Islands region like Filipinos are more prone to diabetes. Other risk factors are obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, mothers of large babies (8 lbs. and above), hypertension, vascular diseases, and those with signs of insulin resistance such as those with polycystic ovary syndrome.    

There is still no cure for diabetes. At present, patients can only control the disease, so knowing everything about it is a must to effectively manage and prevent the onset of complications related to the disease. Among the complications of uncontrolled diabetes are heart attack, stroke, blindness, diabetic nephropathy (damage to kidneys), diabetic neuropathy (damage to nerves), and erectile dysfunction.