A 2024 study revealed that 4.3 million Filipinos have been diagnosed with diabetes.¹ For these millions of Filipinos — and probably for many others who show symptoms but haven’t been diagnosed — daily living is a struggle. For starters, taking medicine to manage insulin and high blood sugar levels can make significant dents in one’s wallet.

Initial research also found that individuals with diabetes often experience high levels of stress, struggle to meet daily demands, and face negative effects on their work or school performance, self-confidence, and social interactions.²

Unfortunately, these issues can intensify when the root cause of this health problem isn’t addressed properly and known complications of diabetes mellitus arise. The sad reality is that some complications can worsen one’s quality of life and even become life-threatening.³

As early as now, learn about the alarming complications linked to diabetes and how you can avoid them way before you are diagnosed with this health condition.

What Are Common Complications of Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes complications are known to develop gradually, take on many forms, and affect different parts of the body. Some known complications of type 2 diabetes include:³

1. Diabetic neuropathy: Elevated blood sugar levels can damage your body’s capillaries, which are essential for nerve health, making them susceptible to damage and injury. This can cause symptoms like ngalay (pain), manhid (numbness), tusok-tusok (tingling), and burning in the body’s nerves. Discomfort can usually be felt on the hands, legs, and feet, and sometimes in the thighs, hips, or buttocks. ⁴
2. Foot problems: Nerve-related issues linked to diabetes can lead to tingling and numbness in the feet. This can significantly decrease your ability to feel pain and discomfort and increase your risk for wounds, which can then be infected. Diabetics are also prone to reduced blood flow to the feet. This leads to longer healing periods for infections and an increased risk for gangrene. If the infection takes a very long time to heal and/or it cannot be treated anymore, amputation may already be recommended to prevent the condition from worsening. ⁵
3. Cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular problems: Research has consistently linked Type 2 diabetes to a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases. Factors such as insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation, and hypertension (high blood pressure levels) ⁶ can make diabetics prone to heart disease or stroke.
4. Diabetic retinopathy: High blood sugar levels can also damage blood vessels inside the retina, a type of tissue in your eyes. This can cause blurry vision and even blindness. Aside from diabetic retinopathy, someone with diabetes may also have a higher risk for cataracts and open-angle glaucoma. ⁴
5. Diabetic nephropathy: High blood sugar levels can damage glomeruli, or small blood vessels responsible for filtering waste from the blood. Failure to address this problem can result in high blood pressure, kidney damage, and accumulation of toxins in the body. ⁷

Prevent These Complications Before They Even Begin

It’s completely normal to feel concerned about potential diabetes complications. But the good news is that you can take steps to lower your risk as early as now. So, where should you start?

The key is to monitor and control your blood sugar (glucose) levels, as they play a crucial role in diabetes onset. While glucose serves as your body’s primary energy source, excessive amounts can disrupt your insulin response and lead to serious health issues.⁸

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that has a major effect on the body’s glucose levels. Insulin acts like a “key” that unlocks cells, allowing glucose (sugar) from blood to enter and be used as energy. Sadly, when someone has diabetes, the body is unable to use or produce insulin properly. This causes glucose to remain in the bloodstream, where it can harm the body and trigger diabetes symptoms like increased thirst or hunger, frequent urination, and others. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is best to consult a qualified healthcare professional. ⁸

Lower Your Diabetes (and Complication) Risk With Dietary Fiber

A healthy lifestyle plays a big role in maintaining blood sugar levels within a healthy range and preventing diabetes onset. One way to achieve this would be to increase your dietary fiber intake, whether from food or a supplement like Glucopro^®!

One sachet of this water-soluble, non-gelling, and wintermelon tea-flavored supplement is home to 5.4g of resistant maltodextrin, a type of dietary fiber. ⁹ Together with proper diet and exercise, the intake of resistant maltodextrin may help:

• Improve gut health by:
  • Stimulating production of a prebiotic in the form of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)¹⁰
  • Increasing the number of good bacteria in the gut¹¹
  • Promoting intestinal regularity¹²
• Assist with healthy weight management by:
  • Promoting intestinal regularity¹²
  • Decreasing visceral fat¹³
• Manage blood sugar spikes after meals¹⁴

Taking a total of three Glucopro^® sachets daily provides 16.2g of fiber, which can help you meet the daily dietary fiber requirements of 20 to 25 grams for Filipino adults 19 years old and above, as highlighted in the Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes(PDRI).¹⁵ Dissolve each sachet in a 250 mL glass of water and consume immediately with your meals.⁹

Glucopro^® is available online and in leading drugstores nationwide, and on Lazada and Shopee at a suggested retail price (SRP) of Php32.00 per sachet.

Use Glucopro^® under medical supervision.

It is always best to consult your doctor prior to taking any form of supplements.