Diabetes Mellitus Prevention and Control Program

I. Introduction
Diabetes Mellitus is a genetically and clinically heterogenous group of metabolic disorders characterized
by glucose intolerance with hyperglycemia (elevated amount of sugar in the blood) present at the time of
diagnosis.

II. Status
The incidence of diabetes is growing around the world. It is in the top ten leading causes of deaths. Filipinos are not
an exemption to this incidence as more and more Filipinos are affected by the disease. In fact, the last 2008 survey was
alarming enough to conclude that one out of every five Filipinos have diabetes. That means that around 20% of the
population have diabetes and this has significantly increase from only 4% in 1998. Another cause for alarm is that
Filipinos diagnosed with diabetes are getting younger. Children as young as 5-years old have been diagnosed with type 2
diabetes. With this trend, the Philippines is expected to belong on the top 10 countries with the most people with diabetes
15 years from now.

III. Goals and Objectives

A. Goal
Our goal is to reduce the health and social impact of diabetes among the Filipinos:
 By making at least 90% of Filipinos aware of what diabetes is by year 2004 to 2010 and thereafter and,
 By reducing the rate of increase of prevalence of diabetes to 5% per year starting 2004 to 2010.
B. Objectives
In order to reduce the impact of diabetes on the health and socio-economic life of the Filipinos, the program
shall ensure that the following objectives are met:
 The development of strategies and programs including awareness campaigns and the continuing education of
health personnel and concerned individuals, to prevent diabetes mellitus and its complications;
 The adoption of cost-effective and appropriate screening methods for the detection of diabetes mellitus in its
early pre-symptomatic stages;
 The investigation into the epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of diabetes
mellitus;
 The evaluation of measures employed, including drug and diet therapies, in the control of diabetes mellitus;
 Establishment of mechanism to reduce the socio-economic impact of diabetes mellitus on affected individuals
and families;
 The granting of incentives and support for organizations of affected individuals and families;
 The establishment of coordinated health systems which shall involve clinicians, researchers, allied health
professionals, community-based health workers and lay volunteers for dealing with diabetes mellitus and its
complications;
 The participation of LGUs, alongside concerned government agencies and NGOs, in the implementation of
programs on diabetes prevention and control;
 The periodic review of research needs and potential in the control of diabetes mellitus;
 The systematic utilization of public and private resources to achieve the objectives enumerated above; and,
 The recommendations of the Commission for Legislation.

IV. Key Strategies and Activities

A. Strategies
Phasing-in of Implementation
The 12-year Program shall be phased into three; (a) preparing the groundwork in the first 3 years; (b)
weakening the bastion of diabetes in the next 3 years; (c) controlling diabetes and assimilating healthy lifestyle into
the Filipino culture in the last 6 years. Each phase shall be concluded by an evaluation and planning activity in order
to increase the chances of success in the proceeding phase. It is the achievement of the goals or outcomes for each
stage, which indicate the beginning of the next phase.
 Phase 1999 to 2001 Preparatory 2002 to 2004 Intensive Phase 2005 to 2010 Maintenance
Phase Phase
Other Create and increase public Counter initiatives and Sustain, improve and update
Activities awareness on diabetes;
influence favouring pertinent communication
Identify, organize and mobilizedevelopment of diabetes; strategies; upgrade health
partners; source funds;
promote healthy lifestyle; services networks for diabetes;
intensify studies andprovide full-scale logistic upgrade education materials
researches support; implement school
curricula
Major Train health workers; design Implement services at the Monitor and evaluate;
Activities multi-level school curricula; community, schools, strengthen specialty facilities;
initiate legislative agenda; workplace, and hospital; institutionalize training; design
support expansion of diabetes succeeding program plans
consortia; monitor; continue
training
Expected Information, resources and Influence of factors favouring Filipino adopt healthy lifestyle
Outcome active support for the program diabetes and its complications and are able to access
are adequately available is weakened diabetes-related services

Phases of the National Diabetes Prevention and Control Program

In order to ensure that people and community-driven diabetes prevention and health services occur in
continuum, the National Diabetes Prevention and Control Program recommends and supports the implementation of
a standard package of services specific to four different venues; community, hospital, school, and workplace.

Program Activities by Interlinked Venues

Community-Based Program
Hospital-Based Program
Public Information and Education
Advocacy Screening Management of
Physical Fitness
Screening Counseling diabetes
Counseling
Referral and Follow-up Referral Management of
Organization of diabetes/community
 School-Based Program
Health Education Program for the Workplace
Physical Fitness Program Health Education
Exercise and Sports Program
Healthy Foods Promotion
Stress Management
Screening and Identification Screening
Counseling
Clinic Services and Referral
Clinical services and Referral
Organization of Diabetes

DOH provides free diabetes risk screening at the barangay health stations, rural health units/health centers, public
hospitals, and other government health facilities.
 
The department also provides free medicines such as oral anti-diabetes medicines and insulin to patients diagnosed
with diabetes.

Legal Basis for Prevention and Control of Diabetes

Republic Act 8191

An act prescribing measures for the prevention and control of diabetes mellitus in the Philippines, providing for the
creation of a national commission on diabetes, appropriating funds therefore and for other purposes.

Department of Health – Administrative Order No. 16-A s. 1995

“The Diabetes Mellitus Prevention and Control Program in the Philippines”

References:
https://www.allaboutdiabetes.net/philippine-diabetes-statistics/
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1012607
https://publichealthresources.blogspot.com/2014/03/diabetes-mellitus-doh-philippines.html
Reyala, Nisce, and Martinez et. Al., “Community Health Nursing Services in the Philippines” 9th Ed., 2000
https://uhmis.doh.gov.ph/ICNDRS/index.php/legal-basis