Novo Nordisk, a global leader in diabetes care, is encouraging Filipinos to become more aware of the risks associated with type 2 diabetes and to be aware of the innovative treatment options.
To date, we have four million adults in the Philippines diagnosed with diabetes.1 Common comorbidities and complications with type 2 diabetes include heart disease and obesity. More than 32% of those with type 2 diabetes have cardiovascular complications, while more than 87% are either overweight or obese.2-5 Meanwhile, 85% of Filipinos with type 2 diabetes have uncontrolled blood sugar levels.2-5
Preliminary data recently released by the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that ischemic heart diseases were the leading cause of death among Filipinos in 2020, accounting for approximately 99,700 deaths. Meanwhile, diabetes mellitus is the fourth leading cause of death among Filipinos in 2020, accounting for approximately 37,300 thousand deaths.6
“For the past three years, ischemic heart disease, cancer, and pneumonia have been listed as the top three causes of death in Filipinos, with diabetes following in fourth place. However, the news here is that the increase in ischemic heart disease is only 2.3%, while cancer went down by about 10%, and pneumonia by about 6%. Diabetes went up by 7.8%,” explained Dr. Gilbert C. Vilela, Vice President of the Philippine Heart Association. “It is a very silent and persistent problem. The pandemic and subsequent lockdown have directly affected diabetes control—there is the lack of accessibility, the limitation of movement and lack of exercise, and an increase in anxiety and fear amongst patients and their families.”
Dr. Michael Villa, President of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, notes that there is a need to change behaviors among Filipinos living with type 2 diabetes, especially given the need for treatment options that not only address blood sugar levels, but also the risks that come with type 2 diabetes. “Type 2 makes up for about 85% of the population of patients with diabetes. Coupled with type 2 diabetes, these patients have multiple risk factors. These are mostly adult patients. Some are smokers, some are hypertensive, some have cholesterol problems,” said Dr. Villa. “This is an area that needs to be addressed, and this is exactly why we are raising concerns with these types of patients.”
“A study in the past has stated that 85% of Filipinos with diabetes have poor blood sugar control. Aside from risk factors, you develop complications due to high levels of sugar,” said Dr. Villa. “There should be a national coordinated effort to continue preventing other non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, and this is one of the things we are encouraging.”
To address the unmet needs of Filipinos with type 2 diabetes, Novo Nordisk is introducing an innovative once-weekly, -glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. This drug has been studied in over 10,000 type 2 diabetes patients worldwide and has led to greater reductions in both blood sugar levels and body weight, compared to other commonly used treatments for type 2 diabetes,7-15 as well as providing cardiovascular benefits.16
‘’Novo Nordisk is playing a vital role in introducing research and development based innovative diabetes treatment to the diabetic patients of this country," said H.E. Grete Sillasen, Ambassador, Royal Danish Embassy Manila.
“Novo Nordisk is committed to developing innovative medicines to help Filipinos living with diabetes lead longer and healthier lives. We’re at the forefront of innovating GLP-1 treatments, helping people with type 2 diabetes address cardiovascular risk and its other multiple risk factors. This is how we express our unique Novo Nordisk brand of care — by addressing the unmet needs of people with diabetes,” stated Cihan Serdar Kizilcik, Vice-President and General Manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines.
Novo Nordisk is committed to pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to medicines, and driving change to defeat diabetes. Novo Nordisk recognizes the support needed by families dealing with diabetes, from scientific innovations to unconditional support from loved ones. The company works with partners in improving access and affordability of innovative medications and in increasing awareness on diabetes and its comorbidities.