Diabetes is a major health concern in the Philippines, now ranking as the fourth leading cause of mortality.1 In 2021, the number of Filipinos diagnosed with diabetes was pegged at 4 million.2 Alarming statistics from the Diabetes Atlas of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) projected that by the year 2030, this number will increase to 5.4 million.3 Thus, it is crucial to equip Filipinos with the necessary knowledge to prevent and properly manage diabetes.

Sanofi General Medicines has taken an active step in creating awareness and support for individuals living with diabetes through its diabetes education Facebook page, “Step Up For Diabetes PH.”

The page recently hosted a heartwarming “Sweet Chat” session entitled "Living the Sweet Life: How to Beat Diabetes,” aimed at shedding light on diabetes, and educating patients on how to take control of the condition to achieve good quality of life.

Endocrinologist Dr. Roy Raoul Felipe, Head of the Center for Diabetes, Thyroid, and Endocrine Disorders – Diabetic Foot Program at St. Luke’s Medical Center, emphasized during the talk that the most common type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes, which he called a “lifestyle disease” as the person’s lifestyle plays a big part in the development of the disease in addition to family history and age4. Dr. Felipe shared that the absence of symptoms does not rule out diabetes and further added, "We urge all Filipinos, starting at the age of 35, to undergo yearly check-ups, including getting a simple blood test to screen for diabetes."

The session also highlighted the inspiring personal journey of Mr. Edward Ty, a 52-year old health advocate and person living with diabetes. Mr. Ty shared, “My initial reaction when I learned that I had diabetes was mostly fear and anxiety. My children then were still young, so worrying about the future consumed me. But I realized later that the fear only came from not knowing and understanding the disease.” He added, “It’s important to understand your medical condition, so always seek regular consultation with your doctor.” He also emphasized that people living with diabetes will be able to better manage the disease when they have the support of their family and friends. “I taught my son how to inject insulin so sometimes he does it for me. My whole family enjoys the same activities I enjoy, like walking and dancing. That’s very helpful because it encourages me to continue doing what I need to do to manage my diabetes.”

Actress, television host, and moderator of the Sweet Chat session, Dianne Medina, also drew from her personal experience of caring for her father who also has diabetes. She urged viewers to support their loved ones in managing this condition such as encouraging them to adopt a healthy lifestyle, accompanying them to their check-ups, and displaying utmost care for their medical needs.

Lastly, Dr. Felipe reminded viewers to not be afraid of the disease – as having diabetes is not a life sentence because it can be controlled. Persons living with this condition can still “live the sweet life” if they are able to properly manage it and get the right support.

Through this Sweet Chat episode, Sanofi General Medicines continues to support Filipinos with diabetes by raising awareness and understanding of the disease. For more information about diabetes and its proper management, like and follow Sanofi Philippines' Step up for Diabetes PH Facebook Page.

Amidst the pandemic, there is another disease that has gone under the radar and is silently affecting millions of people—Diabetes. Described as a chronic, noncommunicable disease, diabetes is a major public health problem globally and persons afflicted with it are also vulnerable to a host of other diseases such as hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and COVID.

“Last year, there were 463 million adults living with diabetes globally. That’s 1 out of 11 people who have the condition,” said Sanofi Philippines Country Lead, Amal Makhloufi Benchouk.

More alarmingly, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reports that a further 232 million people remain undiagnosed, with the majority of them believed to have type 2 diabetes. In the Philippines alone diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and places a heavy burden for many families who are living with disease.

“There are about 3.7 million diabetic Filipinos, and this number is expected to double in the next 5 years,” Amal shared. “Only 34% are diagnosed, 27% are treated, and only 11% are on insulin. Among those treated, less than 50% are able to manage or control their disease. Globally, 1 life is lost every 7 seconds because of diabetes and its complications.”

Stepping up for World Diabetes Day

Among other factors such as diet and lifestyle, Makhloufi stresses that there is a distinct lack of awareness and understanding on diabetes which has led to its widespread prevalence in recent years. To address this, Sanofi Philippines hosted Healthier/PH sessions: Step Up For World Diabetes Day, a virtual media event which featured a multi-disciplinary panel to tackle the issue of diabetes and educate the public on managing the disease.

“As partners for building a healthier Philippines, we have the chance to step up in solidarity for our friends and family with diabetes. Even a simple gesture of raising awareness, getting the word out to help people better understand the disease and the risk factors behind it can go a long way in the prevention and management of diabetes,” she affirmed.

Other speakers during the online panel include fitness expert, Jinoe Gavan of Takbo.ph, who shared simple at-home workout tips to keep active during quarantine. Social enterprise Gising Gising, represented by Bianca Dualan, RND, was also present during the talk and educated the audience on the proper nutrition and diet for regulating sugar levels, which is essential in managing diabetes.

Lifestyle and Chronic Diseases

“Another way to describe diabetes is a lifestyle disease,” Amal explained. “If we actively promote an active and well-balanced lifestyle for our families, where we get sufficient physical activity and proper nutrition, this will play a major role in reducing the prevalence of chronic disease in the coming years.”

And in its thrust to raise further awareness on the impact of the disease and promote healthier lifestyles, Sanofi Philippines launched the Step Up For World Diabetes Day Virtual Run 2020. This virtual running event was launched on November 14 and runs through December 15, and was initiated in partnership with Takbo.ph.

“I encourage you to step up and take action by joining our first ever Step Up Virtual Run 2020, and inviting others to join as well. Because if we spread awareness one kilometer at a time, one day at a time, one person at time, then together we can make a difference.”

How to Join: 

1. To join, you may register at Takbo.ph, where you can select your preferred distance of 15k, 30k, 50k, or 100k. Registration lasts until November 30 only. 

2. We recommend you use Strava, Nike or Garmin to record and keep track of your time. If you wish to use a treadmill, you may do so provided that your time and distance will be indicated. 

3. Should you choose to run outdoors, always remember to practice social distancing and make use of the proper protective equipment.

For Tiktok Virtual Run Challenge 

1. Register on #StepUp4WDD Virtual Run via https://app.takbo.ph/all-races/step-up-virtual-run-2020 

2. Post a video while running on TikTok and tag 5 of your friends to join.

 3. Use this caption upon posting: I pledge to #StepUp4WDD in the fight against diabetes. I challenge @name1 @name2 @name3 @name4 @name5 to join. 

4. Use the following hashtags upon posting: #WorldDiabetesDay #SanofiPH #PanatangSanofi #DiabetesYourType

For more information on how you can join the Step Up For Diabetes Virtual Run 2020, log on to Takbo.Ph.