The Philippines is fast becoming a diabetes \u201chotspot\u201d as more Filipinos take to Western eating habits and working late hours, according to a health expert.<\/p>\n\n
Citing the National Nutrition and Health Survey, endocrinologist Dr. Ma. Cecille Cruz said the prevalence of diabetes in the country was at 7.2 percent, indicating that over 7 million Filipinos were vulnerable to blindness, limb amputation and kidney failure, among the major complications of the disease.<\/p>\n\n
The figures suggested that by 2040, the Philippines would be among the top 10 countries with the highest prevalence of Type 2 diabetes, said Cruz of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.<\/p>\n\n
At present, the country is in the top 15 in diabetes prevalence.<\/p>\n\n
In a recent briefing, Cruz said that while Filipinos were genetically predisposed to diabetes, their growing preference for processed and fast food made the country a diabetes \u201chotspot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWe have an increasing Western lifestyle, [where] we are seeing more processed food being preferred over traditional Filipino cuisine and we are working longer hours which [denies] time for more exercise,\u201d Cruz in an interview with reporters.<\/p>\n\n
She said the increasing number of business process outsourcing (BPO) or call center workers, whose shifts are mainly at night, was also fueling the rise in diabetes in the country.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cWe know that [varying work shifts] takes a toll [on one\u2019s health]. An individual subjected to this kind of environment or work hours will have his or her health affected simply because sleep deprivation is not good,\u201d Cruz said.<\/p>\n\n
Studies have shown that working the graveyard shift\u2014which disrupts the body\u2019s circadian rhythm\u2014encourages smoking, increased caffeine and alcohol intake and food consumption, Cruz said.<\/p>\n\n
\u201c[This] gives people a bigger chance of contracting different illnesses, including diabetes,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Philippines is fast becoming a diabetes \u201chotspot\u201d as more Filipinos take to Western eating habits and working late hours, according to a health expert.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,45],"tags":[1891,2061,206079,41955],"byline":[136],"source":[206078],"column":[],"editor":[],"videographer":[],"position":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n