The prevalence of diabetes in the Philippines is increasing especially now that there’s a pandemic going on. Since most of us are staying at home, we are making ourselves more susceptible to a sedentary lifestyle that could pose a danger to our overall health, specifically, risking ourselves of developing diabetes.
According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization (WHO) Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes, in 2020 alone, nearly 4 million Filipinos are afflicted with diabetes and one of its long-term complication is cardiovascular disease. This accounts to 52 percent of deaths among people with Type 2 diabetes. What’s even more alarming is that many of those living with diabetes do not know of this critical link between diabetes and heart disease. Check out the infographic below to know more about these dreadful diseases.
To address this knowledge gap and to increase awareness among Filipinos, Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc., spearheaded the For Your SweetHeart campaign which urges Filipinos to get moving and exercise amid home quarantine with an activity dubbed as “Healthy Heart At Home,” an online fitness class conducted by top fitness coaches Jim and Toni Saret.
The heart-pumping, low-impact cardio online class, is designed to share key information to the general public about Type 2 diabetes and heart disease connection using a more fun, interactive, and engaging approach.
“The most important thing is to keep your body moving to keep elevated blood sugar and its complications at bay,” Coach Jim said.
“And to have fun while at it!” Coach Toni added.
I tried these low-impact, in-place cardio exercise routines personally, and I I find them really practical and effective. All you need is just a stable and sturdy chair- plus ofcourse your “big effort” and “willingness” to do it. ???? Make these exercise routines a bonding moment for you and your loved ones and have a healthy heart at home.
Prior to the fitness class, TV personality and “For Your SweetHeart” campaign ambassador Kim “Kuya Kim” Atienza, together with Dr. Ayi Faller, President of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists – Philippine Chapter, shared more details about the campaign and briefly shared facts about the critical link between Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
“It’s a cause close to my heart because my mom is living with Type 2 diabetes. There is a need for extra care and caution when it comes to her diet and lifestyle. As her son, I always remind her to take care of her health as well as the need for regular visits to the doctor,” Kuya Kim disclosed in a special video message.
“Patients with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease. Over time, uncontrolled high blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves, leading to the heart and ultimately raising blood pressure levels. Diabetes also increases the level of bad cholesterol. All of these factors increase the risk of heart disease in patients with diabetes,” Dr. Ayi Faller explained.
The online event also introduced www.foryoursweetheart.ph, a website where patients can learn more about the For Your SweetHeart campaign. The website includes helpful articles on diabetes and heart disease management and an assessment tool based on the Framingham 10-year Heart Disease Risk Test, which requires details of the patient’s total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure.
The “For Your SweetHeart” campaign is supported by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation Inc. (ISDFI), American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), Philippine Society of Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism (PSEDM), Diabetes Philippines (DP), Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators (PADE), Association of Diabetes Nurse Educators of the Philippines, Inc. (ADNEP), and Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO).
