Wellness Corner: Diabetes
(January 2019)
Most of the food that we eat is converted into glucose (sugar) for our body to be used as energy (fuel). The pancreas (an organ near the stomach), produce hormones (insulin) to help absorbed glucose into the body. If the glucose is not properly absorbed into the body cells, it causes an elevated glucose in the blood.
Currently, there are over 200 million people worldwide with diabetes. Diabetes is defined as a condition in which a person has an elevated level of sugar in the body, (hyperglycaemia). Diabetes is considered as a serious, chronic disease that occurs either, when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
There are two common types of diabetes, namely: type 1 (insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes); and type 2 (non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset diabetes). Another type of diabetes which occurs during pregnancy which can also lead to type 2 diabetes is called the Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). People who are overweight or obese are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Symptoms of diabetes include excessive urination and thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, fatigue, feeling tired, having very dry skin, having sores that does not heal right away, and vision loss, among others. If left unmanaged, complications, due to diabetes can develop and can threaten health and endanger life, which include diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperosmolar coma, seizures or loss of consciousness. Overtime, diabetes can damage the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves, which can lead to disability and/or premature death.
In 2012, there were 1.5 million deaths worldwide caused by diabetes. Diabetes was the 8th leading cause of death worldwide, particularly for age-group 60-69 (43% of deaths due to high blood glucose), and most prevalent among lower middle income group. There are over sixty percent (60%) deaths due to diabetes among men, particularly for lower-middle income group. Diabetes is not only a global problem, but a regional concern as well. In the Philippines, diabetes comprised six percent (6%) of total death of all ages. In 2017, out of over 60 million Filipinos, close to four (4) million adult Filipinos have diabetes or an equivalent of six percent (6%) of the total population. The result of the University Annual Medical and Physical examination in 2016 and 2017, showed that the number of employees with diabetes have increased from ten percent (10%) to fourteen percent (14%) in just one year.
Early detection and treatment are helpful in managing the effects of diabetes. Diabetes can be diagnosed through measuring the blood glucose level after fasting between eight to 10 hours. Another way of testing diabetes, without fasting is through HbA1C, (glycated haemoglobin), which measures the blood glucose concentration over the past few weeks.
Although the cases of diabetes is increasing, both regionally and worldwide, interventions that promote healthy diet, physical activity and weight loss can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Healthy diet for those who have been diagnosed with diabetes or elevated blood sugar includes low calorie intake, replacement of saturated fats with unsaturated fats; and/or intake of high fiber food and avoiding sugar, tobacco and alcohol, altogether
Physical exercise is highly encouraged for people with high glucose level, combining both aerobic and anaerobic exercise.
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References:
- American Diabetes Society (2018). Physical activity, exercise & diabetes
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/diacare/27/suppl_1/s58.full.pdf
- CDC (2017). National diabetes statistics report
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf
- Diabetes Care in the Philippines
- Philippines
https://www.who.int/diabetes/country-profiles/phl_en.pdf
- Take charge of your diabetes
- UNITE for Diabetes Philippines
http://endo-society.org.ph/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Diabetes-United-for-Diabetes-Phil.pdf
- WHO (2018). Definition & diagnosis of diabetes mellitus & intermediate hyperglycemia http://www.who.int/diabetes/publications/Definition%20and%20diagnosis%20of%20diabetes_new.pdf
- WHO (2018). Diabetes
https://www.who.int/nmh/publications/fact_sheet_diabetes_en.pdf
- WHO (2018). Global report on diabetes.
