Press Release
July 30, 2007

Angara wants diabetes testing center in hospitals all over the country

Senator Edgardo Angara wants hospitals and clinics all over the country to have a diabetes testing center.

In the culminating program of this year's Diabetes Awareness Week spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation Inc., Senator Angara said that hospitals and clinics should be equipped and subsidized for diabetes detection.

In his keynote speech, Senator Angara lamented that while diabetes is easily preventable through proper diet and lifestyle, the disease has already become a public health hazard.

"The threat of diabetes to Filipinos is alarming. Globally, the Philippines ranks 10th among countries with the highest diabetes incidence. An estimated number of six million Filipinos know they have diabetes, and another six million is estimated to have the disease but are not aware they have it," said Senator Angara.

"By 2010, there would be an estimated 15 million diabetics in the country unless the disease is not curbed. What's worse, diabetes is now increasingly affecting even the younger generations, with cases of diabetes in pre-teens and teens surging. Indeed, diabetes is more rampant today than it was ten to 20 years ago," said Senator Angara.

Senator Angara highlighted the need for early detection of diabetes, warning that "diabetes is the mother of even more serious diseases."

Aside from early detection, the senator also stressed the role of education in preventing diabetes.

"Education targets diabetes twofold. First, diabetes awareness among the public may help Filipinos be more conscious of their diet and lifestyle, and consequently help them avoid acquiring the disease. Proper education on how to manage the disease may also help diabetics live to the fullest, and help them avoid its painful complications," said Senator Angara.

"Let's educate our citizenry on the cure, prevention, and most important of all, information about diabetes," he further said.

Aside from giving a speech, Senator Angara also awarded the Diabetes Center's Diabetes Achievers together with the Philippines's foremost endocrinologist, Dr. Augusto Litonjua. The Diabetes Achievers Awards is given to diabetics who have lived their lives to the fullest despite having the disease.

Senator Angara has authored many laws on health, such as The National Health Insurance Act, or PHILHEALTH, that provided insurance to every citizen; and the Magna Carta for Public Healthworkers.

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