The Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region in coordination with the local government of San Juan, La Union and San Juan Diabetes Club celebrated the World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2022, with the objective of increasing awareness on the effects of diabetes and the complications caused by the disease.
The Regional Non-Communicable Disease Unit led by Regional Program Manager of Essential Non-Communicable Disease Erwin M. Baclig, Jr. said that the yearly event provides an opportunity to disseminate information to individuals pertaining to diabetes, the diabetes diet and prevention and control of the disease.
“Meron din kaming mga inihandang free diabetes-related blood chemistry tests unhanding para mamonitor natin ang mga diabetes patients at hindi mapabayaan ang kanilang kalusugan kasama na dito ang pamimigay ng libreng maintenance medicines”
Among the free services conducted for diabetes patients includes FBS (measures your blood sugar after an overnight fast), ECG (electrocardiogram test that detects heart problems by measuring the electrical activity generated by the heart as it contracts) and urinalysis.
Data from the Regional Non-Communicable Disease Unit revealed that there are a total of 8,539 cases of diabetes mellitus in La Union with San Fernando City having the greatest number of patients with 1,981 followed by the municipalities of San Juan with 836, Naguilian – 800, Bauang – 716 and Agoo with 700.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said that the regional office together with the local governments of the province of La Union are providing interventions to members of diabetes mellitus (DM) clubs such as diabetes education, coaching including social support to improve diabetes testing and monitoring, medication adherence, diet, physical activity, or weight management.
“Ang mga health workers naman natin ay nagbibigay ng mga one-on-one interactions or group sessions sa mga myembro upang sila ay mabigyan pa ng karagdagang impormasyon patungkol sa sakit na diabetes.”.
Sydiongco also encouraged individuals to exercise regularly, be more active and lose extra weight to reduce the risk of diabetes and most important is to practice healthy lifestyle to prevent the onset of any illness.
World Diabetes Day started in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation with support from the World Health Organization as an answer to growing concerns about the health and economic threat posed by diabetes, hence, World Diabetes Day became an official United Nation’s Day in 2006.
This year’s theme “Education to Protect Tomorrow” seeks to highlight the opportunities to strengthen the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes.
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