Diabetic patients advised to take precaution during holiday salu-salo

An endocrinologist on Thursday reminded people who have diabetes to be mindful of what they eat and drink now that Christmas and New Year are just around the corner.

In an online forum hosted by the Philippine Heart Association (PHA), Dr. Mia Fojas said that when a celebration is a potluck event, individuals with high blood sugar should consider bringing healthy food instead of sweets.

“Also, kung may pupuntahan kang party, kung concerned ka talaga sa sugar mo at gusto mong bawasan ‘yung mga gamot mong napakamahal, kailangan magpabusog ka na ng healthy food bago ka pumuntang party para mapili mo, if ever, ‘yung mga mas healthy or if ever na may mga matatamis, mas controlled ka pa rin,” she said.

(Also, if you're really concerned about your sugar and you want to reduce your expensive medications, you need to fill up on healthy food before you go to the party so you can choose the healthier food or if ever there are sweets, you are still in control.)

As for those who are taking insulin, Fojas advised patients to consult with their doctors before the holidays so that their medications could be adjusted.

“You could ask your doctors regarding the adjustment of your medications. Para sa ganon, kung saka-sakaling may nakain kayong matamis, hindi kayo dumiretso sa emergency room sa sobrang taas ng blood sugar ninyo,” she added.

(You do this so that in case you eat something sweet, you don't go straight to the emergency room due to the spike in your blood sugar.)

Cardiologist and lipid expert Dr. Lourdes Ella Santos, meanwhile, said that she usually tells her patients who are wine or beer drinkers to also be wary of what they drink over the holidays.

“Sinasabi ko na patagalin [ang pag-inom]. So imbis na apat na beer ‘yung iinumin nila doon sa apat na oras na nandoon sila sa party, siguro isang beer, hawakan nila, tapos pakonti konti lang ‘yung inom. Para naman kasama ka pa rin ng iba pero hindi ganon karami ang intake mo,” she said.

(I advise them to prolong the drinking. So instead of the four beers that they will drink in the four hours that they are at the party, maybe they could just hold one beer and drink it bit by bit. With this, you’d still be with your companions, but your beer intake wouldn’t be that much.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News