HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Three doctors from the Philippines took the opportunity to speak and answer questions about diabetes, which afflicts many on Guam, during a press conference ahead of the 24th Annual Guam Diabetes Conference.
Drs. Jose Marcia, Evangeline Matias, and Maria Salvador are nephrologists from the Philippines. They have seen an increase in diabetic patients from Guam referred to the Philippines.
“Is there a growing number of patients that have diabetes? The answer is yes. It keeps on growing. Even the dialysis patients and transplantation patient is increasing,” Marcia said.
The three doctors are guest speakers at the diabetes conference taking place Sunday. They shared the messages they hoped to impart on the local community.
“We all know that diabetes is one of the lead causes of morbidity … and all other complications … kidney diseases, most of them points to diabetes as the primary problem. … Even in younger ages we can see, it’s more of a lifestyle disease, generational disease and we need to prevent diabetes in order to prevent complications,” Salvador said.
Matias’ message was similar.
“For those patients who have advanced diabetes and who are already having complications, … my main message is they have hope; that if they already have complications it’s not the end of the world for them. Mortality is increased, but with kidney transplantation it will help with the cardiovascular and morbidity and mortality,” Matias said.
Matias stressed that taking care of one’s self is important after a transplant as diabetes can occur again.
That’s where family support comes into play, said Marcia.
“The disease of a person is the disease of the family. … It’s really helping each other, also providing the right food. The lifestyle, it’s not just the patients that needs to adjust but also the family members,” Marcia said.
Matias said overcoming diabetes is a community effort, which also includes the nurses, dietitians and other specialists.
Salvador pointed out that diabetes is considered to be hereditary, but making lifestyle changes can help to reduce the chances of future generations becoming diabetic.
According to the Guam Diabetes Association, in 2022, 21.6% of adults on Guam were diagnosed with diabetes compared to 11.5% of adults in the United States.
There are several types of diabetes. Type 1 is caused by an autoimmune action that stops the body from making insulin. For those suffering from Type 2 diabetes, insulin is not used well and can’t keep blood sugar at normal levels. Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women and goes away after the baby is born.
Doctors speak about the prevalence of diabetes on Guam at a press conference on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, ahead of the upcoming 24th Annual Guam Diabetes Conference at Hilton Guam Resort & Spa in Tumon.
