At first glance, many Filipinos may appear healthy. They lead active lives, juggling work, family meals, and endless errands across the day. But health advocates warn that beneath that normal routine, a growing number may be living with a condition they don’t even realize they have.
During Watsons Philippines’ recent #KahitAnongTypeMo event held at SM North EDSA, representatives from Watsons and Diabetes Philippines came together to shed light on what experts now call a “silent epidemic.”
By the time symptoms appear—frequent urination, constant thirst, or fatigue—serious complications may have already developed.
“Half of Filipinos with diabetes don’t even know they have it,” said Watsons senior AVP for Marketing, PR, and Sustainability Sharon Decapia. She emphasized that early screening, education, and small daily habits remain the most effective defense against the disease.
“Managing your health begins with knowing where you stand. Awareness is the first step toward living well every day,” she added.
The event offered free consultations, blood sugar checks, and kidney screenings to encourage visitors to make health checks part of their regimen. For Decapia, the goal is to make wellness management accessible and less intimidating.
“Our goal is to empower people through education—helping them understand their risks, make informed choices, and take control of their own lifestyle and condition,” she said.
President of Diabetes Philippines Dr. Fatma Tiu underscored the importance of early screening, noting that one in eleven adults worldwide now lives with chronic metabolic conditions and that the Philippines ranks among the top five countries in the Western Pacific region with the highest number of cases.
“It is a silent killer because most people do not feel symptoms until complications have started,” she explained. “Fifty percent of those affected remain undiagnosed. That means half of our population doesn’t know they are already sick.”
Dr. Tiu added that Diabetes Philippines has been expanding its efforts to reach more communities, partnering with Watsons to conduct screenings, educate pharmacists, and provide free tests in major cities.
“We’ve already trained hundreds of Watsons pharmacists nationwide to help correct misinformation about these conditions,” she said. “Pharmacists are not just dispensing medicines—they are frontline health workers who can offer counseling, early screening, and support for treatment adherence.”
According to the International Diabetes Federation, about 4.7 million Filipino adults currently live with undiagnosed or unmanaged health issues—and the number continues to rise each year.
That figure, advocates say, is a wake-up call to start treating regular screenings as a shared responsibility. Beyond personal discipline, early detection often begins with families, workplaces, and communities that encourage one another to stay informed and proactive about their health.
As Dr. Tiu said, “When we talk about health, we talk about family. It’s everyone’s concern—because one person’s awareness can change how an entire household lives.”
