MMC Diabetes Club launch set

MANILA, Philippines - Diabetes can very well be the 21st century’s most prevalent silent killer. In the Philippines alone, diabetes mellitus is among the leading causes of death in adults and is now trickling its way to an even younger population.

First to address the ever growing need for proper diabetes management in the country is Makati Medical Center’s Diabetes Care Center (DCC). The Center is the first ever diabetes educational clinic in Asia and has since become a model for other diabetes educational clinics across the country.

This year, the Center will launch a year-long monthly affair geared towards empowering diabetics by introducing the MMC Diabetes Club via a grand launch on Saturday, May 21. With the program’s recent soft launch at the 8th floor mini auditorium of Tower 2, club members can look forward to a comprehensive lineup of topics that covers all the different aspects of living and managing the disease every month for the entire year.

Since the first line of treatment for diabetes is diet, the first of the series emphasized the importance of oral supplementation and nutrition. DCC’s head dietitian and unit manager Ivy Ramallosa gave an in-depth lecture on the role of oral supplementation in diabetes.

Aside from the program’s main thrust to educate patients, the series of activities also aims to foster camaraderie among diabetes patients. Dr. May O. Sison, the Center’s head explains, “These lectures will not only teach patients important things about their disease, it will also serve as an avenue for diabetics to interact with their fellows, and a venue for them to build support groups.”

Dr. Sison will lecture on “Preventing diabetes problems: What you need to know” at the launch of the Diabetes Club. Participants can also look forward to a number of activities, including free glucose testing, lipid screening, wet sampling, games, raffle prizes, and intermission numbers.

Apart from enjoying the monthly sessions, club members can also avail of discounts on diabetes-related laboratory procedures as well as discounts on a number of items being sold at the Center.

Drop by the Center at the 1st floor of Tower 2 from Monday to Friday, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.