LGUS tapped for early diabetes risk assessment
Aside from Covid-19, health experts also warned that diabetes is an emerging pandemic. diabetes is a chronic condition that requires medical attention. Patients should not self-medicate and should consult their physicians regarding their condition and treatment.
dr. Francis Pasaporte, president of diabetes Philippines, said that one in every 11 adults globally have diabetes.
He added that diabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases.
Diabetes burden
According to dr. Pasaporte, 80 percent of the diabetes burden is in low- and middle-income countries and that 35 percent of all adults with diabetes is in the Western Pacific region (WPR).
“The highest number of deaths related to diabetes also occurred in WPR,” Pasaporte said during a virtual launch of ACT now for diabetes.
The latest data from the Philippine statistics Authority (PSA) recorded 37,265 deaths in 2020 caused by diabetes mellitus, a number that exceeded the 5-year average of 32,991.
Ranked fifth
THE Philippines also ranked fifth among top five countries who have this burden of diabetes (ages 29-79 years old).
As of May 2020, a total of 3,993,300 Filipino adults have been diagnosed with diabetes.
“People with diabetes might develop complications in the heart as well as in the kidney,” dr. Pasaporte said stressing that such heart and kidney risks develop along the diabetes continuum, thereby highlighting the importance of early prevention.
“We see an important intervention by looking at multiple risk factors of individuals before they develop diabetes because these individuals with multiple risk factors will develop diabetes and will have increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure, chronic disease,” dr. Pasaporte warned.
ACT NOW
WITH this, the local government units (Lgus) across the Philippines are urged to do their part to help curb the increasing mortality and morbidity rates of diabetes in the country through early risk assessment in partner health centers.
in a panel discussion hosted by Astrazeneca Philippines, diabetes Philippines, Philippine Association of diabetes educators (Pade), Association of diabetes nurse educators of the Philippines (Adnep), and Lgus, a pathway was introduced to address the increasing mortality and morbidity rates of diabetes mellitus.
A joint effort between the private and public sector, ACT now for diabetes, according to dr. Alberto Pamplona, Medical Affairs Manager of Astrazeneca, stands for “Addressing Complications Today through network of Warriors for diabetes is a holistic approach to diabetic patient wellness.” The program aims to promote early recognition of diabetic patients at risk for developing cardiovascular or kidney complications and to prevent them.
so far, 12 Lgus across the country have initially pledged their support to ACT now for diabetes on its pilot run by distributing risk screening forms in accredited health centers within the locality.
Lgus that have committed to the program include Bacolod City, Caloocan City, davao City, iloilo City, Makati City, Manila City, Marikina City, ormoc City, Pasig City, Quezon City, Taguig City, and Valenzuela City.
Holistic approach
ASTRAZENECA Philippines Country President Lotis ramin says, “With ACT now, we aim to emphasize the importance of collective action, a shared effort between health-care stakeholders and decision-makers to better manage the increasing morbidity and mortality from diabetes in the country.”
“our holistic approach is designed to provide diabetic patients access to earlier diagnosis and effective disease management, to help reduce the risk of heart and kidney complications. We look forward to partnering with more Lgus and the medical community across the country to encourage optimal diabetes care,” ramin said.
As the program expands to onboard more LGU partners, more Filipinos will have access to early identification of risk factors on the heart and kidney complications from diabetes.
diabetes Philippines shall provide continuing medical education for health-care practitioners on the importance of early risk identification and proper interventions to prevent these complications.
Multilateral partnership
THE multilateral partnership against diabetes shall alleviate disease burden, mortality, and health-care expenditure in the Philippines.
in parallel, the Pade and Adnep will also conduct lay lectures and patient education on diabetes care and early prevention.
“Managing the interconnectedness of diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases is a triple threat that needs to be discussed prevalently. We hope to empower both patients and the general public [especially those with family history] on diabetes care and ways to prevent it,” shares Leyden Florido r.n, president of Pade.
For her part, eleonor Tangkeko, rn, Phd., president of Adnep said, “By Acting now, we continue to help promote quality education for persons with diabetes and those at risk.
“At the same time, we are able to equip our professional nurses, nursing graduates and students with the knowledge, skills and values needed for diabetes awareness and management,” she added.