In observance of Diabetes Awareness Week, we are reminded that diabetes has quietly become one of the country’s most serious public health threats. Ranked among the leading causes of death among Filipinos in 2024 and 2025, diabetes affects millions of people and contributes to heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage, and lower-limb amputations. Yet many of these complications can be delayed, or even prevented, through healthier lifestyles, early detection, appropriate medical care, and sustained disease management.
Today, an estimated 4.7 million Filipino adults are living with diabetes, while roughly two in 10 have prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition that can often be reversed through timely lifestyle changes but may progress to diabetes if left unmanaged. These figures underscore the urgent need to strengthen public awareness and encourage healthier habits before irreversible complications develop.
Elevated blood sugar, the hallmark of diabetes, also weakens the immune system, making people more susceptible to respiratory, skin, and urinary tract infections.
Because diabetes often develops silently, many people are diagnosed only after complications have already begun. Adults with risk factors, including overweight or obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, a family history of diabetes, previous gestational diabetes, or advancing age should undergo regular blood glucose screening as advised by their physician. Early diagnosis allows timely intervention and substantially improves long-term health outcomes that avoid developing irreversible complications.
Preventing diabetes begins with addressing modifiable risk factors. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are among the major behavioral contributors to chronic diseases, including diabetes. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake can significantly reduce the risk of developing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) while improving overall health.
Equally important is adopting healthier eating habits. Frequent consumption of large portions of refined carbohydrates, including white rice, combined with physical inactivity, overweight or obesity, and genetic predisposition contributes substantially to diabetes risk. White rice remains a staple of the Filipino diet, with the Department of Science and Technology–Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DoST-FNRI) reporting that nine out of 10 Filipino households consume rice daily, averaging about four cups of cooked rice per household member each day.
White rice has a high glycemic index, meaning it is digested rapidly and causes blood sugar levels to rise quickly after meals. During milling, much of its fiber, bran, and nutrients are removed, unlike brown rice, which retains these components and helps slow digestion and moderate blood glucose levels.
Rather than eliminating rice altogether, moderation and portion control are key. Replacing part of one’s intake with whole grains or lower-glycemic carbohydrate sources such as brown rice, corn, sweet potatoes (kamote), cassava (kamoteng kahoy), and taro (gabi) can help achieve better blood sugar control. These foods release glucose more gradually into the bloodstream, making them valuable components of a balanced diet for diabetes prevention and management.
Portion size is just as important as food choice. The DoST-FNRI’s recommended healthy plate consists of one-half vegetables and fruits, one-third rice or other carbohydrate sources, and one-sixth protein-rich foods such as fish, tofu, chicken, pork, or beef. Preparing meals through steaming, boiling, stewing, baking, or air-frying instead of deep-frying further supports healthy eating.
Non-starchy vegetables such as moringa (malunggay), water spinach (kangkong), vine spinach (alugbati), cabbage, Chinese cabbage (pechay/bok choi), jute leaves (saluyot), and mustard (mustasa) are excellent choices because they are rich in fiber and naturally low in starch. Fruits also remain part of a healthy diet, although portion size matters because they naturally contain sugars. Avocados, guava, pomelo (suha), apples, pears, oranges, berries, and other fresh fruits can be enjoyed as part of a balanced meal plan.
Regular physical activity is another cornerstone of diabetes prevention and management. International and Philippine diabetes guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise each week, complemented by two to three sessions of strength training. This combination improves insulin sensitivity, helps regulate blood sugar, supports healthy weight management, and lowers the risk of diabetes-related complications.
The benefits of exercise extend well beyond diabetes. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, several cancers, osteoporosis, and depression. It strengthens bones and muscles, improves flexibility, balance, and coordination, enhances sleep quality, boosts mood and cognitive function, and promotes overall well-being. Older adults and individuals with heart disease or other chronic conditions should consult their physician before beginning a new exercise program.
For people already diagnosed with diabetes, lifestyle modification should complement and not replace prescribed medications. Regular follow-up consultations, adherence to treatment, and routine monitoring of blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, kidney function, and eye health are essential to preventing complications and maintaining a good quality of life.
Immunization is likewise an important but often overlooked component of diabetes care. Because diabetes impairs immune function, people living with the disease face a significantly higher risk of serious infections. Respiratory infections can trigger dangerous spikes in blood sugar that may require hospitalization. People with diabetes are twice as likely to die from influenza than those without underlying medical conditions and are more than four times as likely to develop pneumococcal disease. One study found that seasonal influenza vaccination reduced the need for flu-related medical care by 66% among people with diabetes, while pneumococcal vaccination has been shown to reduce hospitalization and death.
Creating healthier communities also requires supportive public policies. Safe spaces for physical activity, affordable access to healthy food, strong primary healthcare, smoking cessation programs, regular screening, and timely access to essential medicines all help people prevent and manage diabetes more effectively. A healthier Philippines depends not only on individual choices but also on systems that make healthy choices easier.
Diabetes is not inevitable, nor are its devastating complications. Through healthier lifestyles, early detection, adherence to treatment, regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and preventive measures such as immunization, millions of Filipinos can live longer, healthier, and more productive lives. Reducing the burden of diabetes will require sustained commitment not only from individuals and families but also from communities, employers, healthcare professionals, and government working together to build a healthier future for every Filipino.
Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, which represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are at the forefront of developing, investing and delivering innovative medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics for Filipinos to live healthier and more productive lives.
