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sweet ride and deadly For many, anything sweet to eat brings to mind diabetes. Worldwide, there are more than 177 million people with diabetes, and the number is expected to increase to about 300 million by year 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported. In the Philippines, there are about three million Filipinos afflicted with diabetes. More alarming is the fact that probably an equal number are diabetic but remain undiagnosed. These are some of bothering information about diabetes that was highlighted during the recent interview with Dr. Augusto Litonjua of the Diabetes Center Philippines (Breaking Barriers, IBC-TV 13, 4th August 2004) In fact, a recent study made by the American Diabetes Association put the Philippines’ problem as critical when it said that the country together with Egypt will join the top 10 list in the world with the highest prevalence of this incurable disease within the next 30 years. Early Detection Critical Aggravating our nation’s predicament is the inadequate health delivery system in the country that does not efficiently ferret out early detection and encourage prevention through alternative lifestyles. Dr. Litonjua has been very passionate about the need for a more comprehensive awareness program to warn people of the early signs of diabetes. While a cure is yet unknown, diabetes can be effectively managed for those found to be in the early stages. If not treated at once, sufferers are susceptible to aggravations that can kill. Diabetes can lead to heart problems, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, amputation, and even early death. Detection Procedures Dr. Litonjua, together with medical groups and the Philippine Center for Diabetes Educational Foundation, held complication assessment programs in various hospitals nationwide in observance of National Diabetes Awareness Week recently. Simple procedures like "bantay-paa" or screening for foot problems, "silip-mata" or retinopathy, and kidney watch or nephropathy are effective and relatively inexpensive measures that enable early detection of the killer disease. Lifestyle Changes Needed According to Dr. Litonjua, the good news is that uncomplicated and manageable lifestyle changes have significant effects to delaying or even preventing the onset of diabetes by as much as 60 percent. Studies show that by reducing five to seven percent of body weigh through dieting and regularly doing simple exercises will do the trick. Healthier food, definitely not those that are high in fat and calories, is recommended. Without saying, this also means fewer intakes. No fuss physical activities, like 30 minutes of brisk walking everyday, are likewise suggested. Knowing what to do is easy. It is actually going into the kind of therapy that the doctor prescribes that many fail. This is why there is the need to persuade patients – or those that may be at risk – to take diabetes seriously. High Cost Of Diabetes Treatment For advance cases, treatment remains expensive. The cost of managing diabetes is a huge burden. That is why a lot of alternative medications are getting their share of popularity. There are two herbs that are now gaining wide acceptance in the Philippines as supplemental medication treatment especially when used together with weight loss and exercise. These are the banaba and ampalaya or bitter melon. Other herbal treatments are also being mentioned, like caffeinated coffee. There is no understating the importance of early detection for possible diabetes. But better, to avoid the lifelong dependence on drugs and expensive treatment, sticking to a healthy lifestyle works best. Plight Of Sick Filipinos Millions of Filipinos are afflicted with diabetes and millions more are victims of other types of diseases. Staring in the face of the government and health officials is the plight of sick Filipinos, the exorbitant prices of medicines in the domestic market. Allowing the flow of lower cost medicines into the country has been the object of a strong lobby both from the consumer group and the affected drug companies. The local pharmaceutical companies seem to have a stranglehold on the local market. Apparently, these companies’ influence is so pervasive in government and among health officials that they were able to limit and, to some extent, stop government importation of lower cost medicines. The cry of these drug companies that continued government importation of lower cost medicines would lead to loss of jobs is no longer justified. The alternative is much more costly – the lives of millions of Filipinos who cannot afford expensive medicines and treatment, not only of diabetes but of other sickness as well. ‘Breaking Barriers’ With DOF Secretary J. D. Amatong "Breaking Barriers" on IBC-TV13 (11 p.m. every Wednesday) will feature Secretary Juanita Dy Amatong of Department of Finance (DOF) on Wednesday, 11th August 2004. The government is now collecting just enough taxes to service public sector debt. There is not much left to spend on the day-to-day operations of the bureaucracy. To think of new taxes is not the immediate and only solution to our financial crisis. It may not also be equitable especially if it would hit salaried workers and employees who are already paying their obligated share. Why implement new taxes when the prevailing tax regime has not been optimized? We have to fix first the inefficient tax collection machinery. We have a collection machinery whose credibility is being corroded by perception of wide-spread corruption. We may have to revamp the tax system and make it simpler. But what is more important and urgent is to rid the system of corruption, which – if left unchecked – is like a disease that would fester and contaminate even the most foolproof tax system in the world. Watch and join us break barriers and gain insights into the views of Finance Secretary Juanita Dy Amatong. The Budget Deficit On TV "Isyung Kalakalan at Iba Pa" on IBC News (5 p.m., Monday to Friday) starts today with a discussion of the government’s growing budget deficit. For several years now, the bureaucracy is spending much more than it is earning. Tax collection is being outpaced by the growing loan payments, the cost of government employees salaries and wages, and the infrastructure spending. The President is calling for additional taxes but there seems to be strong opposition to it. For one, the huge tax leaks continue to be unresolved. Watch it. Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 4th Floor, 156 Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reygamboa@linkedge.biz. If you wish to view the previous columns, you may visit my website at http://bizlinks.linkedge.biz.
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