Diabetes Melitus And Its Prevalence In The Philippines
Diabetes is a disease that has reached epidemic proportions over the years. It is caused by the increase of sugar in the bloodstream (hyperglycaemia) due to the pancreas’ failure to produce enough insulin to level it out. It can be classified into three (3) main types: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. However, in some references, prediabetes is also classified as a type of diabetes.
Prediabetes is referred to as the ‘starting point’ of type 2 diabetes. It is where a person does not necessarily feel the symptoms of type 2 diabetes but whose sugar level in the bloodstream has risen more than the normal yet, has not reached the certain level to be equated to that of type 2 diabetes. There are no specific symptoms felt during this stage but it is still a serious health condition as it can further lead to type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes or juvenile diabetes, is the type of diabetes that is insulin-dependent. It is a condition in which diabetes is caused by the pancreas’ inability to produce insulin at all. This type of diabetes is more common in children, teens, and young adults. There are currently no advancement regarding the prevention of type 1 diabetes but a healthy lifestyle with full control of sugar intake and regular appointment with the professionals.
Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is the most widespread diabetes. It differs from type 1 diabetes as in this condition, the pancreas is able to produce insulin. However, the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas is not sufficient or is not used properly. T2DM more often occurs at the age of 45 but can still affect children and teens that are not cautious of their sugar intake.
The last type of diabetes is the gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes develops in pregnant women, who are typically in their 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. While it does not necessarily mean that pregnant women have had diabetes even before pregnancy, it puts them in high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future. Furthermore, this can affect women’s delivery and increase their babies’ chance of having diabetes in the future.
Most individuals with diabetes type 1 or type 2 have hyperglycaemia. Occasionally, another disease is secondary. Hyperglycaemia implies an excessive amount of glucose is circling in the blood and, when it is determinedly high, it means the individual has diabetes. Treatment is generally a diet and oral hypoglycaemic tablets in type 2 diabetes. According to Inzucchi (2015) glucose remains the primary factor in controlling diabetes, especially that comes with its common side effect of hyperglycaemia. It is also reported by the World Health Organization [WHO] (2018) that high blood glucose causd 2. 2 million deaths in the world by 2012.
Diabetes and its prevalence remains to be one of the major issues not merely in the Philippines but in the world. In an article published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Castillo (2018) referred to Philippines as a diabetes ‘hotspot’. It implies that the rising of diabetes cases in the country is something that is blown out of proportions. According to the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (2014), there are 3. 3 million Filipinos that have been diagnosed with diabetes by 2014 excluding the 1. 7 million that have yet to confirm whether they are suffering from such disease, furthermore, the Philippine College of Physicians (2018) stated that this rate can reach up to 7. 8 million by 2030. As supported by data gathered by the Philippine Health Statistics (2013), diabetes has remained an ongoing concern in the Philippines as it is the 6th leading cause of death among Filipinos, and as reported by the Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation (2016), there are already over 6 million Filipinos diagnosed with diabetes in 2016.
As the number of cases of diabetes continues to arise in the Philippines, it also has its rapid outbreak worldwide. In the WHO Global report on diabetes, it was reported that there are over 422 million cases of diabetes in adults in 2014, and most of these cases were all categorized as T2DM (WHO 2016). Meanwhile, diabetes was found to be the direct cause of death of over 1. 6 million people, making it the 7th leading cause of death in 2016.
These numbers are enough to convey the message that the rate of diabetes is increasing. In line with its rapid prevalence is the lack of treatments for it. Surely, thereare available treaments like the anti-diabetic drugs such as acarbose and miglitol, but these drugs are known for their adverse effects. Alongside these drugs is one’s lifestyle, truly. One should manage one’s sugar intake through proper diet, participating in various physical activities, going through medications, regular screening, and treatment for complications. Otherwise, one’s diabetes will deteriorate and may even expose one to high risk of blindless, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation.
