Diabetes December habit

My experience as a diabetes educator gives me a lot of opportunities to talk with different patients in different clinics where I do my diabetes education. Recently, a pharmaceutical company launches it's pilot project on diabetes education as a way for patients to comply on their medications. It's a big step on the Philippine Diabetes education because Pharmaceutical companies are starting to open their doors on investing not only on Doctors but also on diabetes educators which works hand in hand with doctors in managing their diabetes patients.



Two weeks ago I started my lay diabetes education on 10 diabetic patients. All of their concerns pertains to one thing, The holiday season. Every first quarter of the year, diabetes patients increases by 80% on clinic's population count. Diabetes Patient's Exodus I should say, yet patients blame it on the holidays. As a diabetes Educator, it is our job to inform and educate patients and their family members about the impact of healthy eating in their management of diabetes. The problem with Filipino's about their notion " Christmas naman Eh!" ( It's Christmas! it's ok), is that it came to the point that it's becoming a habit for us until it embeds in our mindset. We, Diabetes Educators does not encourage patients not to eat this or that, but we tell our patients that they must know their limits or ask the question to their selves, is it worth it to eat this Crispy grilled pig skin ( Lechon), or this Crispy pata ( deep friend pig hind legs).

We can't prescribe change, but we can empower patients to change their lifestyle and live healthy for their own benefit and their family's benefit.

Merry Christmas to all of you!