MANILA, Philippines—The accelerating rise in the number of people with diabetes is so alarming that doctors described the condition as a catastrophe waiting to happen.

And they may be right: The number of people around the world suffering from diabetes has skyrocketed in the last two decades, from 30 million to more than 230 million, which is almost 6 percent of the world’s adult population!

“And the number is estimated to get past 350 million in less than 20 years if we don’t take steps now. The situation is no different here in the Philippines where some 500 Filipinos are being diagnosed with diabetes every day, adding to the estimated 3 million that presently have this condition,” warned Dr. Francisco Pasaporte, president of the Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators.

Nevertheless, Pasaporte believed that the situation here and elsewhere around the world is not hopeless.

Ignorance

“The disease is increasing in number partly because of ignorance. When the World Health Organization predicted that 80 percent of all new cases of diabetes are expected to appear in developing countries by 2025, what was evident is that these countries lack or have no efficient information dissemination infrastructure that would educate the general population about diabetes,” noted Pasaporte.

The Philippines is a little fortunate because for the past 17 years, Pade has been in the forefront of training healthcare professionals and lay educators on the different facets of diabetes education and patient empowerment.

“But Pade as well as its partners must not rest because the fight against diabetes is a long and arduous task. This is why every year, since 2002, Pade has been partnering with the Association of Diabetes Nurse Educators of the Philippines in holding a joint annual convention (this year’s convention will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ortigas, Pasig City from June 20 to 21) wherein the country’s doctors, nurses, dietitians, and other healthcare professionals are able to share experience and update their knowledge in defeating diabetes,” informed Pasaporte.

Trickle down

With this year’s theme “Community Diabetes Educators: Walking an Extra Mile,” Pasaporte explained that awareness must trickle down to the general public.

“Education is important. While certain diabetes risk factors cannot be changed like age, family history and ethnicity. The people must realize that there are still other factors that could be managed without the patient or their family spending so much money,” reminded Pasaporte.

Most experts agree that changes in lifestyle and diet are the chief culprits.

“As developing countries like the Philippines industrialize, people tend to do work involving less physical activity and eat food that is cheap but high in calories. The combination causes weight gain, which leads to greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease,” noted Pasaporte.

The other form, Type 1, is responsible for only 5 percent to 10 percent of cases, and is believed to stem almost entirely from genetic factors.

Solution

“A simple, inexpensive but very effective solution is choosing a healthier diet and increasing physical activity—with or without weight loss—as this could help prevent type 2 diabetes. In addition, if one is already suffering from a high blood pressure or is overweight, modifying his or her lifestyle habits could have a huge impact in preventing or delaying the onset of full-blown diabetes,” suggested Pasaporte.

He added that seeing a doctor or any other health professional (who have been participating in Pade activities) is also crucial since these experts could make specific recommendations that may be right for the patient, including what particular food to eat, the specific exercise to perform and even what affordable but effective medications to take.

This is why, Pasaporte informed, Pade has been partnering with various groups and organizations (including pharmaceutical firms like sanofi-aventis, which manufactures insulin glargine) in getting out of the traditional hospital and clinic setting, establishing unconventional setups like diabetes camps, care centers in schools and work places in order to educate patients at their most convenient schedule and at a more flexible environment.

“To do nothing in the face of the fast-growing pandemic is not an option. Education alone could could go a long way toward creating healthier population,” he said.