One among 10 Filipino women is diabetic

A study has brought out shocking life style of both Filipino men and women living in the country.
According to a leading health expert, one in ten Filipino women living in the UAE is diabetic.
However, the situation is less alarming among the male compatriots, said Asjad Hameed, a leading consultant in Endocrinology in the capital.
Prevalence is much higher among Filipino women because of their lifestyle and eating habits.
"They do little exercise compared with their male compatriots," Dr Hameed told Khaleej Times.
In a similar study, Dubai's Medical City, the Philippines' largest healthcare network that recently partnered with Sama Medical Services for its UAE and Gulf expansion, revealed the top ailments affecting the Filipinos include hypertension and cardiovascular diseases; type 2 diabetes; high cholesterol and high uric acid.
Many of them suffer from respiratory illnesses and acute gastroenteritis and peptic ulcer also.
Although heredity is not ruled out as a factor, the diseases are mainly related to lifestyle, The Medical City said on Wednesday.
"A person should be particularly careful to limit his intake of highly processed meat, such as meatloaf or sausage. A lot of our patients consume such food in large amounts but do not do anything to counter the negative effects," said Dr Marissa Joson, Cardiologist, The Medical City.
"Majority of Filipino women in the UAE either eat out or order food numerous times a week. Finger chips served with fried meat are commonly found in fast food meals.
"Potato is best consumed baked, not fried," Joson said.
The prevalence of respiratory illnesses is tied to excess weight, and long period of time spent in a stale air-conditioned environment.
Dr Rene Borromeo, surgeon at The Medical City, Dubai, said: "Excess weight definitely has an impact on lung physiology. If someone already has asthma, it becomes harder to treat it if the person also puts on a significant amount of weight."
Dr Rebecca Desiderio, CEO for GCC, The Medical City, advised people to avoid these chronic conditions by doing regular cardio exercises such as running, cycling, walking and swimming.
"Balance the takeaway and fast food meals with regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables," she said.
haseeb@khaleejtimes.com