Doc cautions women against diabetes

THE OBSERVANCE of World Diabetes Day for this year adopts the theme, “Women and Diabetes: Our Right to a Healthy Future”, to highlight the importance of achieving a healthy women population in ensuring a healthier younger generation.

Dr. Domingo Solimen of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center stressed this during the Department of Health’s media forum.

Solimen disclosed around 400 million people around the world are living with diabetes and half of them are women. It was predicted that in the next 20 years, the number of diabetics will reach 640 million with about 330 millionare women. At that point in time, diabetes would be the leading cause of death among women, he said.

In the Philippines, one in every 15 persons is living with diabetes. In the Cordillera, it is one in every 20 persons in the urban area (Baguio – Benguet) and one in every 25 persons in the other parts of the region, Solimen reported.

Such statistics will have huge implications not only medically but also in terms of economic and socio – political aspects as women are mothers, wives, or sisters who are mostly responsible in taking care of a home, he added.

Women also bear children and data also shows one in every seven deliveries is complicated by diabetes. Children of diabetic mothers are also high risk in developing diabetes during their adolescence which can cause explosion of diabetes (cases), he explained.

Solimen reiterated the DOH’s advocacy on healthy lifestyle pointing out that aside from family history and genetics, other risk factors in acquiring diabetes are lifestyle – related.

World Diabetes Day is being observed every November 14 of every year. PIA – CAR