Study Sets Benchmark Advancement Versus Looming Diabetes Epidemic

My family’s health history lead me to attend an event held at Edsa Shangrila. The event focused on Diabetes and it impart information that I think would be useful to many of us. I have been doing my ways to prevent and minimize my risk to have the dreaded disease that most of us have now adays.

A recent study proved that long-term intensive glucose control based on a gliclazide-modified release strategy among diabetes patients may create a major impact on the reduction of kidney failure.

According to leading researchers of the ADVANCE-ON Post-trial Observational Study, , an intensive glucose-lowering treatment is likely to produce major long term benefits for the kidneys.

With this strategy, diabetes patients may have a lower risk of renal failure that requires dialysis or transplantation.

Researchers also note that patients did not experience any increase or decrease in the risks of death as well as any cardiovascular disease.

"The findings highlight the importance of active and effective blood glucose management for renal protection in patients with type 2 diabetes," study director and first author Associate Professor Sophia Zoungas, of The George Institute for Global Health at The University of Sydney said before the delegates in European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Vienna held in September.

She added,"By using this more intensive glucose-lowering regimen you obtain a substantial benefit in terms of renal protection without jeopardizing cardiac safety.”

The ADVANCE-ON research was funded by Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), the British Heart Foundation, Diabetes UK, and Servier.

Filipino patients were represented in this landmark trial. Four centers participated, namely: Makati Medical Center (Dr. Augusto D. Litonjua), UP-PGH (Dr. Mary Anne Lim-Abrahan), Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation (Dr. Araceli Panelo), and the East Avenue Medical Center (Dr. Ma. Teresa Plata-Que).

Diabetes: A looming epidemic

Diabetes is said to be a looming epidemic worldwide which causes complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, limb amputation and stroke. It also leads to more health risks if not managed well. Worst, diabetes is also one of the top ten causes of death.

About 382 million people are estimated to have diabetes worldwide and 90 per cent of them have diabetes type 2.

In the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) estimates that 60 people die from diabetes each day.