Health experts consider diabetes a “growing global
epidemic” as the number of people contracting the disease continues to
rise. Based on a 2014 report by the
World Health Organization (WHO), the
global prevalence of diabetes was estimated to be nine percent among adults
aged 18 years above. In 2012, diabetes was directly accounted for an estimated 1.5
million deaths, more than 80 percent of which occurred in low and middle income countries.
The WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of
death worldwide by 2030.
The number of Filipino diabetics also continues to rise. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology
considers the country as “one of the world’s emerging diabetes hotspots.” The
group states that there were 3.4 million
reported diabetes cases in the country in 2010, representing a prevalence rate
of 7.7 percent. The WHO predicts that by 2030
the prevalence rate will rise to 8.9 percent, equivalent to 6.16 million
cases.
Diabetes is a serious chronic disease caused by the
inability of the pancreas to produce
enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or when the body cannot effectively use the
insulin it produces (Type 2 diabetes) that leads to increased concentration of
glucose in the blood or hyperglycemia that could result to complications like
nerve damage, stroke, heart and blood vessel disease, kidney failure, blindness
and amputation of limbs in the long run.
To further understand
and discern the misconceptions from truths about the life-threatening disease, Philippine
Rotary consulted Diabetologist Dr. Nick
Villatuya, founder of the Diabetes Education Assistance and Research
Foundation Philippines and Past President of Philippine Diabetes
Association-Pasig Chapter. The diabetes
expert was a past president of the
Rotary Club of Alabang.
Diabetes
can be cured.
MYTH
 |
| Dr. Nick Villatuya |
Some people believe and claim that diabetes can be
cured. But Dr. Villatuya, who has been treating diabetic patients for more than
two decades, chucks out that belief, citing the statement of Dr. Elliott Proctor Joslin, the first doctor
in the United States to specialize in diabetes and founder of Joslin Diabetes
Center, “Once a diabetic, always a diabetic.”
“Though there are available medications such as tablets and insulin injections
to help patients control the disease, I do not believe that a cure will come in
the near future. Prevention can be done, but to reverse it once contracted, we do not
have the capability,” he said.
Despite the fact that diabetes is a life-long disease,
Dr. Villatuya emphasizes that diabetics, with proper health care, can live a
long and productive life. “Diabetes should not shorten a person’s life since it
can be controlled.”
Eating too
much sugar can lead to diabetes.
MYTH
Diabetes is a genetic disorder. If it does not run in the family, one has almost
zero chance of developing it even if one has a sweet tooth. “If you are not
predisposed to diabetes, no matter how much sugar you take, you will not be a
diabetic. You may become fat, but you will not become diabetic because of the
sugar itself,” said Dr. Villatuya.
“According to one author, ’Genetics
loads the cannon, but the environment fires it.’ You could be genetically predisposed but if
you are not overweight and do not eat too much unhealthy food, you will not
develop diabetes. However, if you have that in your system and once you get it,
there is no turning back,” he said.
However, the diabetologist stated that though an
individual does not have a history of diabetes in his/her family, he/she could get the disease if his/her
pancreas gets damaged through injury or inflammation known as pancreatitis.
Dr. Villatuya also noted that obese individuals have a
higher risk of developing the disease because the excessive fats in their body
cause insulin resistance.
Older
people have a higher risk of developing diabetes.
MYTH
The elderly may notice a rise in their blood sugar
levels through a blood test, but that does not necessarily mean they have
diabetes. “Those who are in the age of 60 and above have higher blood sugar
elevations compared to people of younger age generally due to inactivity and
development of excess fat. But that may not be categorized under diabetes. The more precise statement is that seniors
have a higher risk of developing ‘glucose intolerance,’” Dr. Villatuya advised.
Diabetes affects sexual performance.
FACT
Someone who has been diabetic for a long time most
likely suffers from diabetic neuropathy which is damage of the body’s nerves
due to high blood sugar. It also affects the nerves that are involved in sexual
performance. Dr. Villatuya also added that there are other factors such as psychological problems
and medications for other illnesses that can negatively affect the libido.
Diabetics
should avoid engaging in exercises
MYTH
Diabetes should not halt patients from participating
in physical activities according to Dr. Villatuya. “Diabetics
can live normal lives. They can participate in physical activities,
unless they have complications from neuropathy. They should exercise because one way to
decrease insulin resistance is through physical activity. “ He recommends
joint-friendly exercises such as walking, swimming and aerobics.
Women with diabetes should not get pregnant.
MYTH
Diabetic women can still give
birth to a healthy baby, but there are risks. “They can be pregnant but they should receive excellent care and
treatment,” said Dr. Villatuya. “She has to control her sugar level to protect her baby and doctors must see to it
that the medication will not affect the
baby inside the womb of the mother. That
is why the type of medication given to the mother is in the form of injectables
instead of tablets.”
Dr. Villatuya also explained
that a pregnant woman who never had diabetes before can have high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, a
condition called gestational diabetes. Experts believe that this is caused by
the hormones from the placenta which
supports the development of the baby, and that makes the mother’s body less
responsive to insulin.This makes the pancreas to work double time in secreting
more insulin and if it can’t keep up with the increased insulin demand, blood
glucose levels become too high, which can harm the health of the mother and her
baby.
Diabetics
have low resistance against diseases
FACT
Diabetes, if not controlled, could weaken the body’s
immune system. “If the blood sugar of a diabetic is not controlled, he/she may
be prone to illnesses like infections in the wounds, tuberculosis, eye disease
(retina), kidney diseases, neuropathy and heart disease.”
He added that according to the American Heart Association, recent findings
stated and concluded that having diabetes is equivalent to having a coronary
heart disease. “Diabetes damages the body’s system and makes blood vessels get
clogged easily. That is why diabetics should really be watchful of their health.”
