THE SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) raised awareness to urge people to subject themselves to early screenings for diabetes.
During the Kapehan sa Dabaw on July 29, Dr. Marcus Albert Belen, SPMC Endocrinology Department of Internal Medicine fellow, said the hospital caters to around 90 diabetic patients daily. Most of the patients were aged between 30 and 50, including 18-year-olds diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
Belen highlighted that diabetes is a global burn among people. It’s a lifetime disease and can be very burdensome since it affects other organs.
“Actually, diabetes is the number one cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide. So katong mga pasyente na naga dialysis usually diabetic na sila,” he said.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority website on Feb 28, 2024, Diabetes mellitus ranks fourth in the top causes of death in the Philippines in 2023 with 28,593 cases recorded.
Complications of diabetes are composed of micro and macrovascular. Factors of diabetes include genetics, gene mutations, and lifestyle (diet and physical activity).
“For persons who are not as active or mga coach potatoes silang at risk rin sila for developing diabetes,” he said.
He added that the best way to cure diabetes is prevention where people at the age of 35 must do screenings on diabetes such as fasting blood sugar, HbA1c test, or a glucose tolerance test. People who are overweight, or have hypertension or high blood pressure are also advised to do screenings.
