In the Philippines, type 2 diabetes is currently the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure and non-traumatic limb loss. The disease is also the ninth leading cause of death in the country, with one in twenty five Filipinos affected by the disease. It is thought that by the year 2025, up to 8 million will be affected by the disease (more than double the amount now).
Dr Risa Allyn Sy, president of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, has reported that since 1993, annual cases of diabetes in the country have gone up by 2.5% year on year. Meanwhile, globally, the number of people expected to have diabetes by 2025 will reach 330 million, with many cases coming from the Western Pacific region. By 2025, the prevalence rate of diabetes is expected to reach as high as 6.9% in the Western Pacific region.
Amongst health professionals in the Philippines, it is widely accepted that prevention is the best way to avoid the serious health consequences of diabetes. However, while some advocate the use of medication to lower blood sugar levels, prevention through lifestyle changes should be promoted as the first course of action. Type 2 diabetes is often caused as a result of poor diet and lack of exercise. By encouraging prevention through a change in behaviour, not only will many Filipinos prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes but they may also be able to prevent cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer.
Source: The Manila Times, 16 October 2006.