MANILA, Philippines?Dr. Michael Villa has seen much of the damage that diabetes can inflict so one must listen when he says preventing the disease is always preferable than treating it.
?One can never be too young?or too paranoid?to take preventive measures against diabetes mellitus,? says the consultant endocrinologist at St. Luke?s Medical Center. ?Once an individual develops the disease, he or she is at greater risk for a heart attack, stroke, blindness, amputations, kidney problems and even death.?
Negative effects
About 4 million Filipinos are estimated to have diabetes mellitus, a figure Dr. Villa strongly believes is an underestimate since many cases in the country are undetected. He warns against the negative effects of our fast-paced lifestyle and increasing reliance on modern technology, specifically the lure of calorie- and fat-rich diets, dubious stress-coping mechanisms such as smoking and drinking, and the easy copout to lead a sedentary lifestyle. The risk to develop diabetes increases significantly if the disease runs in your family, he adds.
According to Dr. Villa, individuals who lead a sedentary lifestyle, are overweight or obese, eat an unhealthy diet, and have a family history of the disease are at risk for diabetes mellitus. Common signs of the disease include frequent urination, constant hunger, excessive thirst and the sensation of being pricked by needles on the hands and feet. The diagnosis is confirmed through a fasting blood sugar (FBS) determination and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
There are actually several types of diabetes mellitus, Dr. Villa says. ?Type 1 diabetes mellitus usually develops in childhood and often requires lifetime insulin therapy while gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and disappears after delivery. But type 2 diabetes mellitus is by far the most common.?
Very preventable disease
The only silver lining in the dark cloud that is diabetes is that the disease is very preventable. ?Simple but positive lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, are scientifically proven to prevent diabetes,? Dr. Villa explains. ?In fact, for individuals with mildly elevated blood sugar levels, such simple lifestyle changes can prevent prediabetes from progressing to full-blown diabetes.?
Robust research has produced a broader range of treatment options for diabetes, Dr. Villa says. A variety of oral anti-diabetes medications target different organ systems that all work to lower blood sugar levels, including vildagliptin which belongs to a new class of blood sugar-lowering medicines called DPP-4 inhibitors. Aside from conventional disposable insulin injections, insulin pens and pumps are now available.
In his practice, Dr. Villa has seen many teenagers come in to the clinic with unbelievably high blood sugar levels and who eventually developed diabetes. ?If you are a parent who has a family history of the disease, I strongly advise you to encourage your children to eat a healthy diet and engage in regular exercise while discouraging them from spending too much time in front of the TV or personal computer.?
Unique, one-stop shop
According to Dr. Villa, the Endocrine, Metabolic and Diabetes Center (EMDC) of St. Luke?s Medical Center is a unique, one-stop shop that offers a complete range of diagnostic tests and treatment modalities under the supervision of a multidisciplinary team of highly trained specialists.
The EMDC has a particular focus on diabetes patient education that includes self-care, home glucose monitoring and insulin self-administration. It likewise has a strong research thrust, including the molecular aspects of diabetes, and holds a weekly conference where doctors discuss the latest research and treatment trends of the disease.
?Treatment options for diabetes mellitus are now broader and more effective,? Dr. Villa says, ?but remember that prevention is always better than cure.?
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Angelo Palmones is a science and technology broadcaster. For feedback, please e-mail the Healthcare Technology and Outcomes Information Bureau at inquire@ htoib.com.
