BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The country’s observance of Diabetes Awareness Week this fourth week of July underscores the need for early detection and proper management of the chronic disease.
Diabetes remains one of the most common illnesses affecting Filipinos, and some people may already have the disease without knowing it, Dr. Charisse Bencila, Medical Officer at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC), said in a recent Kapihan sa Baguio forum here.
Bencila said that diabetes mellitus is a long-term condition in which the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar because it does not produce enough insulin or cannot use insulin effectively. She also discussed the major types of diabetes, including Type 1, Type 2, gestational diabetes, and other rare forms.
Bencila cited data from the International Diabetes Federation showing that about 4.7 million Filipinos were living with diabetes in 2024, with the number projected to rise to 8.6 million by 2050. The IDF country profile also reflects the serious burden of the disease in the Philippines, where many cases remain undiagnosed.
She said diabetes may lead to serious complications if left uncontrolled, including kidney disease, eye damage, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, and poor wound healing. Recent reporting also notes that diabetes remains the leading cause of chronic kidney disease among Filipinos.
Common warning signs include frequent urination, excessive thirst, blurred vision, unexplained weight changes, weakness, slow-healing wounds, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, and recurring infections. However, many people with diabetes may not show symptoms early on, making screening important.
Bencila advised screening starting at age 35, or earlier for those with risk factors such as being overweight, a family history of Type 2 diabetes, a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, or a history of gestational diabetes. Screening may be done through a fasting blood sugar test, oral glucose tolerance test, or hemoglobin A1c test.
To help prevent complications, she shared the “IWAS” guide: consult a doctor, eat healthy, stay active, and take medicines as prescribed.
She also reminded the public that diabetes should be managed through proper medical care and lifestyle changes, not by relying solely on unproven herbal alternatives.
Diabetes Awareness Week is officially observed every fourth week of July under Proclamation No. 213, s. 1993. **MAWC/PIA-CAR
