Philippine Public Health Hazard

Last week, I keynoted the culminating program of this year's Diabetes Awareness Week spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation Inc., founded by the Philippine's leading endocrinologist Dr. Augusto Litonjua.

While diabetes is easily preventable through proper diet and lifestyle, the disease has already become a public health hazard. The threat of diabetes to Filipinos is quite alarming.

Over six million Filipinos are diagnosed with diabetes, and another six million are afflicted with the disease but are not aware of it. Globally, the Philippines ranks 10th among countries with the highest diabetes incidence.

By 2010, there would be an estimated 15 million diabetics in the country unless the disease is curbed. What's worse, diabetes is now increasingly affecting even the younger generations, with cases of diabetes in pre-teens and teens surging. Indeed, diabetes is more rampant today than it was ten or 20 years ago.

Diabetes is also the mother of more serious diseases. It is both shocking and sad that while diabetes is the 9th leading cause of death in the Philippines, diabetes awareness is very low among the public.

I propose that public hospitals and clinics all over the country put up a diabetes testing center. Moreover, we need to intensify our education and awareness efforts in order to combat it.

Education targets diabetes twofold. First, diabetes awareness among the public may help Filipinos become more conscious of their diet and lifestyle, and consequently help them avoid acquiring the disease. Proper education on how to manage the disease may also help diabetics live to the fullest, and help them avoid its painful complications.