“In the Philippines, there are now 500 new diabetics every day. The disease is spreading and growing due partly to ignorance,” says Dr. Francisco Pasaporte, President of the Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators (PADE), in a media brief held in Quezon City.
If we are to create a strong and healthy nation, we must include diabetes in our priorities. “The cost of inaction is clear and unacceptable. We should get involved and stay involved,” Dr. Pasaporte stressed.
Dr. Ricardo Fernando, considered the father of diabetology, also suggested to improve mass education among poorer communities to correct several misunderstandings that have contributed to the neglect of this chronic disease. He said general information on diabetes should be provided, including the main risk factors: unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and smoking.
According to the World Health Organization 2007 statistics, there are more than three million Filipinos who are suffering from diabetes. This figure is expected to increase in the coming years.
PADE, having been in the forefront of training healthcare professionals and lay educators on the different facets of diabetes education and patient empowerment, believes that awareness and patient education are the best weapons against diabetes.
To create better awareness about diabetes, PADE has gone out of the traditional hospital and clinic settings. It has tried unconventional set-ups such as diabetes camps, care centers, schools and workplaces. As a result, diabetes information has become accessible to patients, at a more convenient and flexible environment. |
