The American Diabetes Association says the more you walk, the lower your diabetes risk is. Hence, walking has become a means to raise awareness about diabetes or diabetes mellitus (DM). Last Monday, November 14, 2022, the Hello Doctor PH family participated in the annual Global Diabetes Walk, taking over 100,000 steps to prevent diabetes. Learn more here.
Global Diabetes Walk: Raising Awareness On Diabetes Care and Prevention Since 2004
The Global Diabetes Walk started as a simple idea back in 2004 and has already accomplished so much in 18 years. Since its inception, the campaign has gathered more than 5 million participants, touching countless lives. On top of raising awareness about diabetes and its prevention, it has likewise “galvanized communities, and in some cases, even changed public policies.”¹
Walks can take place any day in November, but most happen on November 14, in time for World Diabetes Day.
Hello Doctor PH Taking Steps To Prevent Diabetes
As the leading health and wellness website in the country, Hello Doctor recognizes that diabetes is a big – and still growing – public health concern. Reports say 1 in 14 Filipino adults live with diabetes and experts project a higher prevalence rate in the future.
For this reason, Hello Doctor PH took the initiative and participated in the Global Diabetes Walk, taking over 100,000 steps cumulatively. Simultaneous walks were conducted in Taguig, Las Pinas, Cavite, Boracay, Bulacan, and Batangas.
For some of the team members, the walk also holds a personal meaning. Bianchi Mendoza, Hello Doctor PH’s Content Managing Editor, took part because her grandmother suffered from diabetes.
Fiel Tugade, a writer and an aspiring doctor who joined the walk with her sister, said, “I’m honored to take part in the Global Diabetes Walk, so that my small steps can help reach more people. It serves as a reminder people can be part of the advocacy of making better decisions towards living a better and healthier life.” She finished the campaign strong with a total of 12,000 steps.
As the entire Hello Health Group family are also advocates of Diabetes Prevention, members from different regions likewise joined the Global Diabetes Walk. Learn more about their respective walks through the following photos and articles.
Myanmar (Hello Sayarwon)
Malaysia (Hello Doktor)
Taiwan (Hello Yishi)
Indonesia (Hello Sehat)
Given Its Impact, Diabetes Is One Of Hello Doctor’s Priorities
Hello Doctor prides itself as the only health and wellness website in the country to offer medically-verified content, allowing Filipinos to take better care of themselves and their families.
Considering its impact, diabetes is one of the site’s priority categories and readers can find in-depth discussions on the signs and symptoms, care and treatment, and complications of DM. We hope that through Hello Doctor, readers can make informed decisions regarding their healthcare.
Besides the doctor-approved content, we also offer Filipinos screeners which can help identify risks. We have the Prediabetic Risk Screener that helps ascertain the possibility of having Borderline Diabetes, a condition where the blood sugar levels are higher than normal but still low to be considered as DM.
For those who have already been diagnosed, our Diabetes Self-Management screener will be of great help. It determines how well the patient is following their prescribed regimen for diabetes care.
In line with World Diabetes Day, we have also prepared a spotlight page for readers to easily access articles, screeners, and communities on diabetes.
Diabetes Specialist Dr. Ayi Faller Shares Her Tips
In line with the advocacy, Dr. Theresa Marie Valdez-Faller, one of the leading practitioners in the field of Endocrinology and one of Hello Doctor’s medical panelists, also shared important tips and information on how to prevent and manage the condition.
In the special video, Doc Ayi shared that:
- Diabetes is among the top causes of deaths in the Philippines.
- There is still unequal access to healthcare for Filipino diabetics and medicines are still quite expensive
- Diabetes screening is crucial, especially if you have risk factors.
- Early signs to watch out for include unexplained weight loss and the 3Ps: polydipsia, polyuria, and polyphagia.
- Walking is one of the best exercises to avoid being sedentary, which is a risk factor to DM.
Above all, Doc Ayi stresses that Type 2 Diabetes is preventable and there are many steps you can take to reduce your risk of acquiring it. Watch the full interview and Hello Doctor’s participation at the Global Diabetes Walk here:
Key Takeaways
Learn more about Diabetes here.
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