Think about it. Disturbing ..
Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the country. Heart diseases remain the number one cause of death and it is followed by stroke (second) and cancer (third).
The health department should be able to prevent the rapid surge of noncommunicable diseases ( NCDs ) which are now at epidemic proportions or we will all be spending a lot on dialysis and other procedures eg coronary angiogram , angioplasty , coronary artery bypass graft , and kidney transplants. The Philhealth is paying a staggering 17 billion a year on dialysis alone , a jump of 400 .% from the last few years.
Although dialysis is often a necessity for patients with these conditions, it can be an incredibly costly procedure.
Ex President Benigno Aquino ( Pnoy ) died from diabetic kidney disease on June 24, 2021, at age 61. For at least five months, Aquino underwent dialysis for his diabetes.
GMA NETWORK's long-time broadcast journalist Miguel 'Mike' Enriquez passed away on Tuesday, August 29. Enriquez battled with diabetes, underwent a heart bypass operation in 2018, and a kidney transplant in 2021. He was 71.
They were educated and influential.
But this disease is common among the young and the low to middle income population.
This disease has forced me to change mindset , to talk with people about these huge challenges, and advocate for these poor and less influential patients.
Indeed , health is wealth. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
We are running out of time.