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November 14, 2008
Spotting the dangers of pre-diabetes
Text by Mary Grace Valencia
Illustration by Marigrace Gonzales
 You may not be diabetic now, but that is not an assurance that you are safe from the possible complications that diabetes–the fifth leading cause of death worldwide–brings.
Dr. Rosa Allyn G. Sy, former president of the Philippine Diabetes Association and the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism contributed this information during a media forum on diabetes awarenesss sponsored by Bayer Healthcare Philippines. Dr Sy said that a lot of abnormalities due to high blood sugar levels can already be detected even before patients are diagnosed with diabetes. She added that 50 per cent of type 2 diabetes patients are reported to already show complications at the time of diagnosis. These complications include microvascular conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and neuropathy, as well as macrovascular conditions, pertaining to heart, nerve, and brain dysfunction.
Diabetes Mellitus is a condition wherein the body is lacking or is resistant to insulin, described by Dr. Sy as the “key” that releases glucose into the blood. Like a car needs fuel, the human body needs glucose in order to carry its vital functions. Diabetes occurs in two types. Type One Diabetes happens when insulin is absent and the patient needs to administer insulin injections in order to survive. Type Two Diabetes occurs when there is insufficient insulin or insulin receptors, or the “keyholes” are defective. The latter type of diabetes is often treated with lifelong medication such as insulin sensitizers.
There are currently 155.5 million cases of diabetes worldwide and 500 people are diagnosed everyday. Many Filipinos are continuing to contribute to the statistic as diabetes is now the eighth leading cause of death in the country. Furthermore, Dr. Sy said that 2.6 per cent of the population are recorded to be diagnosed. However, after conducting labratory tests, it was found that 4.6 per cent of the population have diabetes. This also proves that many people may still not know they are diabetic.
Dr. Sy and emphasized that people should not only be wary of being diagnosed with either Type One or Type Two diabetes. When one’s blood sugar level is above normal yet has not reached diabetes levels, that person is in the state of pre-diabetes, also known as borderline diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, or dysglyceamia. A person is considered to be pre-diabetic when the blood sugar level is 100 to 125 miligram per deciliter.
A pre-diabetic has a higher risk of suffering metabolic problems that result in hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Impaired insulin function is also said to be the result of an unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, aging, stress, and genetics. Women who also have a history of diabetes during pregnancy have a stronger chance of acquiring the condition.
Fortunately, there are many methods in which pre-diabetes can be detected and solved. Treating pre-diabetes gives patients a chance of preventing further complications that may result when pre-diabetes develops into full-blown Diabetes Mellitus. One of the recommended ways is Post-prandial Blood Glucose (PPBG) examination, or an after-meal blood glucose test. PPBG is said to be an effective way of detecting the earliest signs of diabetes. When one’s post-prandial blood glucose levels are above average, it serves as an indication that the person should take further tests to determine if the condition is already Diabetes Mellitus or pre-diabetes.
Sandra L. Agleron, assistant product manager for Glucobay, one of the leading diabetic medications in the market, said that “diabetes is preventable through commitment to adopting a healthy lifestyle.” Results of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study show that exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes up to 58 per cent. Dr. Sy recommends 150 hours of aerobic exercise a week. Other preventive measures include avoiding fatty, sweet and processed foods; maintaining a healthy weight, learning to cope with stress, and avoiding smoking.
November 14 is World Diabetes Day. WDD is the primary global awareness campaign of the diabetes world. It was introduced in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the alarming rise in diabetes around the world. In 2007, the United Nations marked the Day for the first time with the passage of the United Nations World Diabetes Day Resolution in December 2006, which made the existing World Diabetes Day an official United Nations World Health Day. For more information on WDD, log on to http://www.worlddiabetes.org/.
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