World Diabetes Day:
Pia urges healthy lifestyle to fight diabetes

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today made her own call for 'radical change'--particularly in the eating and health habits of Filipinos--as the country marks 'World Diabetes Day' November 14.

World Diabetes Day was started in 2006 by the United Nations, marking the fist time that a non-communicable disease was acknowledged by the international body as a global concern.

"One of every five adult Filipinos is suffering from diabetes, which is a non-communicable disease. It means that this ailment could be readily prevented if only more Filipinos would learn to take on a healthy diet and fit lifestyle," said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Demography.

Cayetano expressed concern about the rising incidence of diabetes among Filipino adults, based on a survey conducted last year by the Philippine Cardiovascular Outcome Study on Diabetes Mellitus.

Citing the survey, she said 20.6 percent of adults aged 30 and above were found to be diabetic--rising tremendously from the findings of a similar survey in 1998 which showed only 3.9 percent of Filipino adults to be diabetic.

Young Filipinos face similar risks, noted Cayetano, as she cited estimates by the Philippine Society of Pediatric Metabolism and Endocrinology that around eight percent of Filipino children may be diabetic.

"The number of Filipino children afflicted with diabetes continues to rise, but this could be curbed if their parents would only set a good example. Prevention is still the best option, as they say. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is something that parents need to pass on to their children to prevent so-called lifestyle-related diseases like diabetes," she said.

According to the Department of Health (DOH) website, diabetes is a serious chronic metabolic disease characterized by an increase in blood sugar levels associated with long term damage and failure or organ functions, especially the eyes, the kidneys, the nerves, the heart and blood vessels.

Those who are prone to this ailment include children of diabetics, obese people, people with hypertension, people with high cholesterol levels and people with sedentary lifestyles

To prevent diabetes, the DOH advises the public to eat plenty of vegetables, avoid sweets such as chocolates and cakes, cut down on fatty foods, avoid alcohol drinking and stop smoking and exercise regularly. Obese people should try to lose some weight, while those with hypertension should consult their doctor for advice and management.