Four point one (4.1%) of Filipinos have diabetes mellitus. At the current estimate of the population, this means 2.5 million Filipinos with diabetes, with perhaps an equal number which remain undiagnosed.
Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and of insulin itself. This lead to elevations of the blood sugar, and the appearance of sugar in the urine. When uncontrolled over the long run, diabetes can produce devastating complications. Diabetes mellitus can lead to blindness, kidney failure and gangrene of the extremities. People with diabetes are more prone to develop high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
It is said that one is not born with diabetes mellitus. However, one is born with predisposition to develop it. A predisposed individual is one who may have close relatives who are diabetics or who has a cell type which renders him very susceptible to these triggering factors. Many predisposed individuals may ward off the appearance of the disease.
What are the triggering factors of diabetes? Obesity is a major triggering factor for diabetes mellitus. The increase in body weight reduces the effectivity of insulin in various tissues. Multiple pregnancies make the woman, so predisposed, to develop diabetes, especially after the third pregnancy. Various physical and emotional stresses may trigger the appearance of the disease in the predisposed individuals. Certain hormones, drugs and other medications may act against insulin to render it less effective, and thus also trigger the appearance of the disease. Viruses may attack the beta cells of the pancreas causing destruction of some of them, the destroyed cells then act to incite the formation of anti-bodies which will now destroy the remaining beta cells, - a process of self destruction which leads to the type of diabetes which is insulin dependent. Thus, one who has diabetic relatives should not overeat, and should always exercise to prevent undue weight gain.
Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and of insulin itself. This lead to elevations of the blood sugar, and the appearance of sugar in the urine. When uncontrolled over the long run, diabetes can produce devastating complications. Diabetes mellitus can lead to blindness, kidney failure and gangrene of the extremities. People with diabetes are more prone to develop high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
It is said that one is not born with diabetes mellitus. However, one is born with predisposition to develop it. A predisposed individual is one who may have close relatives who are diabetics or who has a cell type which renders him very susceptible to these triggering factors. Many predisposed individuals may ward off the appearance of the disease.
What are the triggering factors of diabetes? Obesity is a major triggering factor for diabetes mellitus. The increase in body weight reduces the effectivity of insulin in various tissues. Multiple pregnancies make the woman, so predisposed, to develop diabetes, especially after the third pregnancy. Various physical and emotional stresses may trigger the appearance of the disease in the predisposed individuals. Certain hormones, drugs and other medications may act against insulin to render it less effective, and thus also trigger the appearance of the disease. Viruses may attack the beta cells of the pancreas causing destruction of some of them, the destroyed cells then act to incite the formation of anti-bodies which will now destroy the remaining beta cells, - a process of self destruction which leads to the type of diabetes which is insulin dependent. Thus, one who has diabetic relatives should not overeat, and should always exercise to prevent undue weight gain.
Did you know that :
The recently revised USDA dietary guidelines now include exercise. The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2000 recommends at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily for adults (preferably more) and at least 60 minutes for children.
It happens that both carbohydrates and protein will raise blood sugar in a diabetic and insulin levels in a nondiabetic. Fat will have no effect on either. Fat is a freebie. (Dr. Richard K. Bernstein, Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: A Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars (Little Brown, 1997). His Web site is www.diabetes-normalsugars.com .)
The glycemic load (GL) is a relatively new way to assess the impact of carbohydrate consumption that takes the glycemic index into account, but gives a fuller picture than does glycemic index alone. A GI value tells you only how rapidly a particular carbohydrate turns into sugar. It doesn't tell you how much of that carbohydrate is in a serving of a particular food. You need to know both things to understand a food's effect on blood sugar. That is where glycemic load comes in. The carbohydrate in watermelon, for example, has a high GI. But there isn't a lot of it, so watermelon's glycemic load is relatively low. A GL of 20 or more is high, a GL of 11 to 19 inclusive is medium, and a GL of 10 or less is low.(Ref. Mendosa.com Living with Diabetes)
SOME HELPFUL TIPS:
Favor nutrient-dense, whole foods. That means reduce your intake of sugar and other "empty calorie" refined carbohydrates (white flour, white rice, etc.) in favor of complex carbs (whole fruits, whole grains, whole starchy vegetables, etc.). Avoid fried foods and other foods high in saturated or hydrogenated fat.
Avoid or reduce non-foods and "anti-nutrients" (foods that can create extra nutritional demands by forcing your body to work harder). That means reduce your intake of alcohol, caffeine, soft drinks and foods that are high in artificial ingredients or have little nutritional value of their own.
Although there are some who disagree, an increasing number of nutritional experts are recommending that you pay attention to the glycemic effect of foods and gravitate toward foods or combinations of foods that don't raise blood sugar too quickly. The glycemic effect is more of a factor for some people than others, but it is a recurrent theme among many nutritional experts.
DIABETES AWARENESS WEEK
In 1993, former President Fidel V. Ramos signed proclamation 213 declaring every 4th week of July as Diabetes Awareness week.
Its objectives are:
1. To promote awareness of diabetes through:
a.) Early Detection
b.) Educational Programs
2. To prevent the onset and progression of complication through promotion of healthy lifestyle and mass screening program.
In 1993, former President Fidel V. Ramos signed proclamation 213 declaring every 4th week of July as Diabetes Awareness week.
Its objectives are:
1. To promote awareness of diabetes through:
a.) Early Detection
b.) Educational Programs
2. To prevent the onset and progression of complication through promotion of healthy lifestyle and mass screening program.
DIABETES EDUCATION
The main thrust of the Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation is to provide an intensive education program on diabetes.Though more than 2 million Filipinos are afflicted with diabetes, the vast majority of the population - including many of the victims themselves - know very little or nothing at all about the deadly disease.
Diabetes is so complex and so demanding that proper education becomes an important and integral part of diabetes treatment. All diabetes patients must learn the proper diet, correct exercise, continuous medications, proper care of the teeth and feet, correct usage of blood tests, daily record keeping.
There is quite clearly an urgent need for proper diabetes education.
The Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation aims to provide an intensive education program on diabetes by establishing a Diabetes Center
The creation of the Diabetes Center
http://www.diabetescenter.org.ph
Webmaster webmaster@diabetescenter.org.ph
PCDEF Secretariat secretariat@diabetescenter.org.ph
PCDEF President president@diabetescenter.org.ph
Convention Organizing
Committee convention@diabetescenter.org.ph
Committee convention@diabetescenter.org.ph
Office Rm. 366 Diabetes Educational Center, Makati Medical Center Makati , Philippines
Phone (632) 893-6017
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