FAME Inc. Publisher Dr. Rafael Castillo with Dr. Joy Arabelle
C. Fontanilla, DiabetEASE Magazine Editor-in-Chief; Dr. Augusto D. Litonjua,
Father of Philippine Endocrinology; and Dr. Pepito dela Pena, President of Philippine
Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (PSEDM) lead the
ribbon-cutting ceremony of Sweet Escape: Hataw Na 2017 held last August 18 at
Starmall, Alabang
MANILA,
PHILIPPINES—Friendly Alliances and Media Expressions (FAME) Inc., publisher of DiabetEASE
Magazine, conducted the Sweet Escape: Hataw Na 2017, an annual advocacy event
promoting awareness on the risks, prevention, and management of diabetes
mellitus last August 18, Friday at Starmall Activity Center, Alabang,
Muntinlupa City.
DiabetEASE Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and head
of Center for Weight Intervention and Nutrition Services (WINS) at St. Luke's
Medical Center - Global City Dr. Joy
Arabelle C. Fontanilla said that diabetes is a deadly disease which should
be properly addressed to alleviate the ballooning of number of people with
diabetes.
Dr. Joy Arabelle C. Fontanilla, Head of Center for Weight
Intervention and Nutrition Services (WINS) at St. Luke's Medical Center -
Global City and DiabetEASE Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief
“In every
six seconds, there is one person with diabetes who dies from diabetes somewhere
in the world,” said Dr. Fontanilla.
With such
an alarming figure, she cited tips and advice on how diabetes and its
complications can be prevented.
“Lahat po tayo ay kumain nang tama, mag-ehersisyo,
have a healthy lifestyle so that we can prevent the complications and onset of
diabetes,” she added.
In recent
years, diabetes—a non-communicable disease (NCD) that occurs when the pancreas
fails to produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively utilize the
insulin it produces; thus causing elevation of glucose level in the blood—has
shown a rapid growth of prevalence rate globally. [1]According
to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), there are approximately 415
million adults suffering from diabetes worldwide, and more than 542,000
children live with type 1 diabetes.
Dr.
Augusto Litonjua, Father of Philippine Endocrinology and President of the
Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation (PCDEF) Inc., shed light on
the causes and risk factors for diabetes. He said that the culprit in diabetes
is not the fact we eat but rather, the sugar which is found in fruits and in processed
foods.
Dr. Augusto Litonjua, Father of Philippine Endocrinology and
President of Philippine Center for Diabetes Education Foundation (PCDEF) Inc.
“Hindi po ‘yong cholesterol ang nagiging sanhi ng pagtaas ng triglyceride,
blood pressure, at diabetes. Iyan po
nagsisimula sa asukal na ang tawag ay fructose,” added Dr. Litonjua.
[2]Fructose,
a type of naturally occurring sugar found in numerous foods such as soft
drinks, commercial cereals, dried fruits, among others, is a known cause of
insulin resistance which is a precursor to diabetes.
Dr.
Litonjua noted that the fat buildup inside a person’s stomach causes
complications in the liver which then leads to NCDs such as hypertension and
diabetes.
President
of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (PSEDM) Dr. Pepito dela Peña capped off the
event with a lecture on the importance of exercise and maintaining physical
fitness for a diabetic person.
President of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology,
Diabetes, and Metabolism (PSEDM) Dr. Pepito dela Peña
“Being
sedentary, o ‘pag laging nakaupo,
stiffens the joints, weakens the muscles, affects the circulatory system by fat
accumulation, and the heart loses strength,” said Dr. dela Peña.
According
to him, “sitting disease” is one of the most common conditions today that is
difficult to tackle as it has become a normal practice for many, that is why he
encouraged the public to exercise regularly.
Meanwhile,
event partners The Diabetes Store (TDS)
and PhilHealth also talked about
their respective campaigns in relation to the metabolic disease.
PhilHealth Regional South Anabelle Llanto and diabetes
educator and The Diabetes Store representative Patricia Mae Recto
TDS is
the country’s first one-stop-shop for diabetes, catering to all needs
concerning diabetes. It offers a wide array of products and services that help
people with diabetes check and manage their respective conditions.
Patricia Mae Recto,
diabetes educator and representative of TDS, discussed about grocery shopping
assistance to help guide diabetes patients with proper nutrition diet.
“Pag kakain tayo, dapat
balanced. Dapat may rice, protein,
vegetables, fruits, fat, and milk,” said Recto.
She also advised
to always plan ahead of time and bring a shopping list when going to the
grocery store so that a person knows which foods to buy and to avoid.
Thereafter,
Head of Marketing of PhilHealth Regional South Anabelle Llanto explained the PhilHealth’s benefit packages that a
diabetes patient can apply for and its availing requirements.
“Naka-case rate po ang diabetes depende sa
type nito. Usually kapag diabetes, nag-re-range ng PhP 15,000
pataas,” Llanto said.
PhilHealth
is the no. 1 health insurance company in the Philippines, implementing
universal health coverage for over two decades by helping pay for the medical
bills of the sick.
Hataw Na: Hataw Galaw Para sa Kalusugan
As a part
of the Sweet Escape’s push for the betterment of living with diabetes, it also brought
the second Hataw Na: Hataw Galaw Sayaw
Para sa Kalusugan Intercollegiate Urban Dance Competition.
The
competition aims to encourage people with diabetes and their families to
embrace a healthier and active lifestyle through physical activities such as
dancing.
Being
physically active makes a person less prone to diabetes and its complications.
By encouraging the youth to support the advocacy in such manner, Sweet Escape
believes that the fight against diabetes will become stronger over the years to
come.
All
participating groups were required to incorporate Sweet Escape’s theme of
promoting health in their dance routine as a part of the judging criteria. The
panel of judges was composed of Ms.
Presy Tamayo, Axcess4Life Zumba Instructor; Mr. Arnel Enriquez, Dance Director of Cultural and Tourism Office
of Muntinlupa City; and Mr. Hudson
Pelayo, Operations manager of FAME Inc.
Among the
nine groups that showcased their talents and competed for the Hataw Na grand
title, Sibol Dance Crew from ICCT
Cainta was named as this year’s Hataw Na grand champion, followed by CEU Street Squad from Centro Escolar
University as the 1st runner-up, and AMA Makati Dance Crew from AMA Computer College Makati as the 2nd
runner-up.
The event
also featured raffle draws for the event participants; a Zumba party led by Axcess4Life Wellness Solutions Inc.
members; a ballroom intermission dance presented by The Muntinlupa Yaman ng Kalinangan Dance Company; and a karate demo
session headed by the members of the Team
Shitokai PKL Philippines who are known as the League of Champions.
The Sweet
Escape 2017 is in cooperation with the Philippine
Center for Diabetes Education Foundation (PCDEF) Inc., and Philippine Society of Endocrinology,
Diabetes, and Metabolism (PSEDM).
The event
would also like to thank Starmall Alabang, City Government of Muntinlupa,
PhilHealth, Diabetes Store, HealthFirst Clinic, Corbridge, Herbalife Nutrition,
Omizu (Beautifying Natural Spring Water), Lightwater and Musli Biscuits under Suncoast
Brands, Monea Salon Professional Series, Philippine Karate-do League Inc.,
Creative Baker, Enchanted Kingdom, Café France, C-Lium Fibre, Cocoline
Naturals, and Coco Natura.
About FAME Inc.
FAME INC. is the publisher of Health and
Lifestyle, DiabetEASE, ZEN Health,
and Travel Plus magazines. It aims to promote good health, healthy lifestyle,
sound Christian values, and professional excellence among doctors, healthcare
professionals, legislators, and the laymen.
About DiabetEASE
Magazine
The
DiabetEASE magazine is dedicated to
bringing to Filipino people a life lived well even with diabetes. It consists
of the latest news and discoveries on diabetes, inspiring diabetes stories from
real-life patients, food tips and recipes, dos and don’ts, and just about
everything you need to know for a diabetes-friendly lifestyle.
FOR MEDIA
INQUIRIES:
Gelyka
Ruth Dumaraos Ma. Regina Gutierrez
Media Coordinator Event
Coordinator
0926 036 7782 09157593494
Girlie
Joy Jovero
Media Coordinator
09178589821
[1] What is diabetes. (n.d.). Retrieved August 21, 2017, from
https://www.idf.org/about-diabetes/what-is-diabetes
[2] Skerrett, P. J. (2011, April 26). Is fructose bad for you?
Retrieved August 21, 2017, from
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-fructose-bad-for-you-201104262425
