He’s not into sweets, rarely eats junk food, and doesn’t come from a family of diabetics. So, when Filipino celebrity Sam Milby took to Instagram in June 2024 to announce that he has type 2 diabetes, it was the last thing fans of the actor expected. Milby accompanied his post with an image of his glucose meter reading of 525 mg/dL, a result well above the normal blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or below.
Milby is the latest personality to prove that diabetes isn’t exclusive to the overweight sweets addict. Before him, the most high-profile Filipino with diabetes was Mr. Pure Energy himself, Gary Valenciano, whose youthful and tireless performances belie the fact that he’s 60 years old and has been living with type 1 diabetes all his life.
“Diabetes is a disease where our blood sugar is high,” says Aivind Gabrielle G. Santiago, MD, endocrinology specialist at top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed). She adds that diabetes can be traced to the pancreas, the organ whose role is to aid in digestion and control blood sugar (or glucose) through the hormone insulin.
While there are many factors that lead to diabetes, there are two types that people should keep an eye on. Those with type 1 diabetes must be injected with insulin because they don’t produce enough of it or any at all. In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn’t know how to utilize insulin and builds a resistance towards it.
While the condition is multifactorial or has many causes including unhealthy lifestyle due to poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, high-stress jobs, and smoking, Dr. Santiago also underlines diabetes may also run in the family, emphasizing that even individuals living a healthy life can develop disease.
“No matter what type of diabetes the patient has, it has great impact on their health if their sugar is not controlled,” shares the endocrinologist.
“The human body is made up of large and small blood vessels from head to toe, and what sugar does is destroy these blood vessels,” she continues. “It can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, leading to diabetic retinopathy, or vision loss. It can cause diabetic nephropathy, or kidney failure. And it can cause diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage. Patients can experience pain in their hands and feet for no reason at all—or feel numb to pain even if they are injured or have a wound.” Diabetes also puts one at risk for heart attack and stroke.
Do you have diabetes?
Unusually high results from two (2) common blood tests can confirm diabetes. The normal values of Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), which checks glucose after an 8- to 12-hour fast, fall between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL. The hemoglobin A1c (HBA1c) test, meanwhile, reveals the average blood sugar level in a three-month period. It’s best to aim for a result of 5.7% or less.
Diabetes can also be detected through these classic symptoms: fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, numbness, unexplained weight loss, and in the case of Milby, increased thirst and frequent urination. What alarms Dr. Santiago even more is seeing an increase in type 2 diabetes diagnosis among those still in their 20s and 30s, a disease often associated with middle age.
“When you’re diagnosed with diabetes, you cannot reverse it. So, there is such a thing as ‘forever’—in diabetes,” quips Dr. Santiago. “Fortunately, patients should not be afraid to address this condition, as it’s something that they can completely control with some modified lifestyle changes.”
MakatiMed shares a few important reminders on how anyone, even those diagnosed with diabetes early, can maintain a healthy lifestyle.
1. Follow a diabetes-friendly diet
“Because what you eat affects your blood sugar, the key is to choose the right foods,” she says. Leafy green veggies like spinach, kale, and broccoli are not only nutritious, but they are also foods with low glycemic index, meaning they have minimal effect on blood sugar. Lean cuts of fish and chicken provide healthy servings of protein.
Remember, carbohydrates are converted into sugar when consumed, so pick a healthier alternative like brown rice over white rice, white bread, and potatoes.
2. Get moving
It lowers weight, cholesterol level, blood pressure, and blood sugar too—what’s not to love about exercise?
“Engage in 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily,” advises Dr. Santiago. Make it fun and part of your everyday routine. “There are a lot of free dance and aerobics videos on YouTube,” she says. “And instead of commuting, why not walk to your destination?”
3. Be proactive
Take your prescribed medications as instructed and see your health specialist regularly.
“I always tell my patients to get a checkup on their birth month. That’s their gift to themselves,” says Dr. Santiago. “So, every time it’s your birth month, make sure to schedule a consult with your doctor. It’s better for diabetes to be detected early rather than when complications set in.”
Equally important to note is that diabetes affects each person differently. To further help guide patients with their specific needs, MakatiMed has a dedicated Diabetes Care Center to provide support and comprehensive counseling on managing diabetes. The center can give patients and their loved ones tips on foot care, exercise, medical nutrition therapy, insulin injection, and self-monitoring of blood glucose.
“There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to treatment,” stresses Dr. Santiago. “Each person with diabetes, even if they are brother and sister or husband and wife, is unique, so you can’t follow another family member’s prescription. The decision on how to treat a patient depends on their condition, thus, treatment is individualized.”
Article based on the “Doctors on TV” guesting of Aivind Gabrielle G. Santiago, MD last March 4, 2023.
For the complete list of Makati Medical Center’s Endocrinologists click here. You may also reach us via MakatiMed On-Call at (+632) 8888 8999 or at [email protected].
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