One in 10 Filipinas in UAE Suffers from Diabetes

ABU DHABI: One in 10 Filipino women living in the UAE is diabetic because of their dietary habits and lifestyle, according to a survey by a leading health expert.

However, the situation is less alarming among Filipino males, Asjad Hameed, a leading consultant in Endocrinology in the capital, was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.

“Filipinas are more prone to diabetes because they do exercise less compared to their males compatriots,” Dr. Hameed reportedly said.

In a similar study, The Medical City in Dubai reportedly revealed that 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, acute gastroenteritis and peptic ulcer.

Although heredity is not ruled out as a factor, the diseases are mainly related to lifestyle, The Medical City reportedly said.

“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,” Dr. Marissa Joson, Cardiologist at The Medical City, was quoted as saying.

“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 reportedly advised.

The prevalence of respiratory illnesses is tied to excess weight, and long period of time spent in a stale air-conditioned environment, reported Khaleej Times.

Dr. Rene Borromeo, surgeon at The Medical City, reportedly 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.”

(Source: FilipinoTimes.ae)