ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanews/24 July) – Diabetes has become one of the leading causes of death among Zamboangueños, City Health Officer Dr. Rodel Agbulos said.
Agbulos said that 72 persons representing 18 percent of the total 389 diabetes cases registered in 2010 were recorded to have died.
Diabetes is a chronic disease marked by high levels of sugar in the blood. Those with diabetes are at high risk for a number of complications.
There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels while Type 2, the most common form of diabetes, is marked by
high levels of sugar in the blood.
Agbulos said that diabetic persons have problems in making or responding to insulin–a hormone that helps get the sugar from the blood to the muscle, tissues and cells where it is used for energy.
“The food we eat greatly contributes to diseases. A high fat, low fiber and high carbohydrate diet coupled with being inactive and deskbound promotes diabetes,” he said.
He said people over 45 years old, overweight, with high blood cholesterol and not doing regular exercise are candidates for diabetes. Also, those with family history of diabetes during pregnancy will likely be at risk if proper dieting and healthy living is not observed.
The early signs and symptoms of diabetes include frequent urination, always feeling thirsty and hungry, losing weight, always feeling tired and irritable, having cuts or wounds that are slow to heal and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, he said.
He advised anyone to seek early consultation when they have any of the risk factors and feel any of the early symptoms.
“You can consult at the City Health Office Out-Patient Department,” he added.
Agbulos also reminds the public to be cautious of diabetes which he revealed also raises the risk of dying prematurely from a host of other ailments such as heart attack, stroke and even kidney malfunctions.
Meanwhile, Agbulos said his office in coordination with the Department of Health regional office and partner agencies as well as non-government organizations have lined up activities in line with the observance of Diabetes Week from July 25 to 29. (MindaNews)