Is it possible that I have type 2 diabetes?
We are all fearless until disease hits home. Once known, however, controlling type 2 diabetes mellitus ( T2DM) early reduces the complications we never want to have, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and leg amputation. Knowing early is key. November 14 is World Diabetes Day. Ask yourself 14 questions to know:
Start with your family: 1. Do I have a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes?
Some say acquired, but observation and science confirms it: a first degree relative with T2DM predisposes you to develop the condition.
If you are a woman, ask: 2. Did I ever have a baby weighing >8 pounds at birth?
If you were not diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but delivered to a big baby, your T2DM risk is also high. About 50% of GDM women will eventually have T2DM in 10 years after delivery.
3. Are my menstrual periods irregular?
Along with excess body hair, these may be due to polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that makes a person more likely to have T2DM.
Examine your body: 4. Do I have dark, velvety skin on the back of my neck or underarms?
It is not sun exposure or inadequate scrubbing, but acanthosis nigricans.
5. What is my body mass index (BMI)?
Divide your weight (kilograms) by your height (meters); divide again by your height (meters): >23 means overweight, while >25 is obese. A TO Z OF HEALTH Ma. Cecille Añonuevo Cruz, MD
6.What is my waist circumference (WC)?
Position a tape measure around your waist midway between the lowest rib and the top of your hip bone. If the measure—while exhaling!—is >90 cm (males) or >80 cm (females)—you have central obesity. When present, these are associated with a person’s inability to respond adequately to the body’s own insulin, called insulin resistance.
Think back:
7. Do I spend >2 hours a week watching TV? 8. Am I losing weight but eating more? 9. AmI frequently thirsty? 10. Do I wee-wee more often? 11. Is my blood pressure >140/90? 12. Have I ever had high triglycerides ( >250 mg/dL) or low HDL (good cholesterol) ( >35 mg/dL)? 13. Have I ever had a heart attack or stroke? 14. Have I ever been tested for my blood sugar? Apart from your birthday, there has never been a better time than today to ask these questions. Do yourself the favor of making World Diabetes Day not only meaningful, but personal. The Philippines is among the top 15 countries with the highest prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the world. It is also alarming to note that only 1 out of 7 treated Filipino patients with type 2 diabetes are achieving their treatment goals. Early control is important to reduce a patient’s risk of serious type 2 diabetes complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, limb amputations, and kidney failure. To address this very important issue and increase active awareness of improving type 2 diabetes control rate among Filipinos, AstraZeneca in partnership with the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians recently launched an advocacy to reduce 365,000 A1c in 365 days. This article does not replace the advice of a health care professional. For symptoms related to type 2 diabetes, please consult a physician. Dr. Ma. Cecille Cruz is a boardcertified internist and endocrinologist of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and an active consultant at St. Frances Cabrini Medical Center in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Inquire about Mission Diabetes Early Control 365, a nationwide campaign of AstraZeneca and Philippine Academy of Family Physicians involving healthcare professionals and local diabetes societies aimed at promoting early detection of diabetes. The A to Z of Health Information Advocacy is a joint initiative of a group of medical specialists and supported by AstraZeneca Philippines aimed at raising public awareness on various diseases and providing health information and updates to the healthcare community.