Don't Sugarcoat Your Health: Alamin ang mga Sintomas ng Diabetes at Paano Ito Maiiwasan
Don't let a sweet "today" turn into a bitter "tomorrow."
As we mark World Diabetes Day on November 14th, we are reminded to focus on a condition that silently but seriously affects millions of Filipinos. Diabetes is no longer just a "rich person's disease" or an "old person's ailment". It is a growing health concern that spares no age or walk of life.
What's more alarming? It's estimated that over four million Filipinos are living with diabetes, and the bigger problem is that more than half of them don't even know they have it. It is a silent killer that slowly damages the body without being noticed.
That's why this awareness month, let's not sugarcoat our health. It's time to learn the facts, recognize the symptoms, and understand the ways to prevent it.
What is Diabetes?
In the simplest terms, diabetes (or diabetes mellitus) is a chronic, or long-term, condition where your body either cannot produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it does produce.
Think of insulin as a key. It's the "key" that unlocks your cells to let in glucose (sugar) from the food you eat, which your body then uses for energy.
When you have diabetes:
· Type 1 Diabetes: Your body produces very little to no insulin (like having no key).
· Type 2 Diabetes: Your body doesn't respond well to insulin, or doesn't make enough of it (like having a broken key or not enough copies).
In both cases, glucose can't get into the cells and instead builds up in your blood. This high blood sugar, over time, can damage various organs in the body, such as the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves.
Know the Symptoms: Signs to Watch Out For
Since Type 2 diabetes can develop slowly, many people either don't notice the symptoms or dismiss them as just "normal" fatigue or aging. Don't be complacent. If you are experiencing the following, it's best to consult a doctor:
1. Frequent Urination (Polyuria)
Do you notice you're always needing to pee, especially at night? When your blood sugar is high, your kidneys try to remove the excess sugar by filtering it out into your urine.
2. Constant Thirst (Polydipsia)
Because of frequent urination, your body loses a lot of water, leading to dehydration and making you feel very thirsty.
3. Extreme Hunger (Polyphagia)
Even if you're eating, your body isn't getting enough energy because the sugar can't get into your cells. The result? You feel hungry all the time.
4. Unexplained Weight Loss
Even with increased hunger, you might lose weight. This is because your body starts breaking down muscle and fat for energy when it can't use glucose.
5. Constant Fatigue and Weakness
Your cells are starved for fuel, making you feel tired and lethargic.
6. Blurred Vision
High blood sugar levels can pull fluid from the lenses of your eyes, affecting your ability to focus.
7. Slow-Healing Sores
Diabetes affects your blood circulation and impairs the body's natural ability to heal and fight infections.
8. Itchy Skin or Frequent Infections
Excess sugar in your body can become food for yeast and bacteria, leading to more frequent infections.
If you have a family history of diabetes, are overweight, have high blood pressure, or live a sedentary lifestyle (always sitting or lacking exercise), your risk is higher, and you should be even more alert to these symptoms.
How to Prevent It? Steps for Your Health
The good news is that Type 2 diabetes can be prevented. The changes you make today are a significant investment in your health for tomorrow.
1. Watch Your Weight
Being overweight is one of the primary risk factors. Losing even 5% to 10% of your body weight has been proven to significantly lower your diabetes risk.
2. Be Active
You don't need to be at the gym every day. A brisk 30-minute walk, cycling, or dancing on most days of the week is a great help. What's important is regular movement.
3. Eat Right (Healthy Diet)
· Cut Back on Sugar and Processed Foods
Avoid sugary drinks like soft drinks and powdered juices, as well as processed foods and fast food.
· Increase Your Fiber
Eat more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Fiber helps slow down sugar absorption into your bloodstream.
· Choose Lean Protein
Opt for fish, chicken, and beans instead of fatty red meats.
4. Stop Smoking
Smoking also increases the risk of diabetes and its complications.
5. Get Regular Checkups
Don't wait for symptoms to appear. A simple fasting blood sugar (FBS) test can detect prediabetes, the warning stage before full-blown diabetes. When caught at the prediabetes stage, it can often be reversed.
The Role of Pharma: Your Ally in Diabetes Care
For those already diagnosed with diabetes, lifestyle changes are key, but this is also where the crucial role of pharmaceutical care (or pharma) comes in. Pharma isn't the enemy, it's your ally in managing this condition.
"Pharma" isn't just about medicine. It's an entire system of support:
1. Helpful Medications
Many oral medications (pills), like metformin, help your body use insulin more effectively or reduce sugar production in your liver. For others, especially with Type 1 or advanced Type 2, insulin therapy (via injections or insulin pens) is necessary for survival.
It is crucial to remember that these are prescription medications, you must consult your doctor to get a proper diagnosis and prescription before taking any of these drugs. These medications are the result of years of research and development by the pharmaceutical industry to help patients.
2. Tools for Monitoring
Pharmaceutical companies manufacture the blood glucose monitors (glucometers) and test strips used at home. These are vital tools for you to know if your lifestyle changes and medications are effective. With your pharmacist's help, you can learn how to use them correctly and what your numbers mean.
3. Your Kapitbahay Pharmacist
Your Kapitbahay pharmacists at MyPharma and other drugstores are among the accessible healthcare professionals. They are trained to:
· Explain your medications clearly: how to take them, what the possible side effects are, and why they are important.
· Educate you on the proper way to monitor your blood sugar.
· Provide advice on diet, exercise, and how to avoid complications.
· Remind you of the importance of taking your medicines on time (medication adherence).
· Help identify at-risk individuals and refer them to a doctor.
Diabetes is a lifelong commitment. It's a partnership between you, your doctor, and your pharmacist.
Don't Ignore Your Health
This World Diabetes Day, the challenge for all of us is to not be complacent. Millions of Filipinos are at risk or are living with diabetes without even knowing it.
Don't sugarcoat the symptoms. Listen to your body. Act now: get screened, eat healthier, and be active. And if you are diagnosed, remember that you are not alone. With the right lifestyle and the support of your healthcare team, including pharmaceutical care, you can still live a full, healthy, and productive life.
Always stay safe and ingat palagi, Kapitbahay! - (MyPharma)
References:
· https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-diabetes-day
· https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html
· https://diabetes.org/diabetes/prevention
· https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774315/
· https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
· https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555976/