Half of Filipino adults with diabetes remain undiagnosed

Half of adult Filipinos with diabetes remain undiagnosed, according to experts from Diabetes Philippines, Inc. (DPI).

This means a significant number of Filipinos are living with the condition without knowing it—potentially leading to delayed treatment and an increased risk of complications.

“Diabetes is a global epidemic, and it's a growing, continuing global epidemic. But the hardest hit are the poor countries like the Philippines. Unfortunately for us, 50 percent remain undiagnosed,” DPI President Dr. Fatima Tiu said during a media event on Tuesday, 1 July.

“And as we are not able to diagnose them early, we see the complications coming in first. That's why we have so many patients undergoing dialysis,” Tiu explained.

She attributed the high number of diabetes cases in the Philippines to "rapid urbanization and poor lifestyle."

“Our children are hooked on their computers, sitting most of the day. The incidence of obesity in the young is growing very fast, and that is the most common risk factor for diabetes,” Tiu added.

Based on World Health Organization data, approximately 830 million individuals worldwide live with diabetes, with the majority residing in low- and middle-income countries.

In the Philippines, it is estimated that by 2025, 6.63 percent of the adult population — or roughly 4.7 million Filipinos — will be affected. This makes diabetes a substantial and growing health concern in the country.