What You Need to Know About Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common illnesses among many Filipinos. However, did you know that you can have diabetes and be unaware of it? To prevent diabetes from becoming more serious, you should be aware of important medical facts so you’ll be able to treat it properly.

“Many people are being affected by diabetes, and some aren’t even aware that they have it. Poorly managed diabetes can lead to severe health complications such as heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and a blood vessel disease that may require amputation. That is why it’s vital to learn more about diabetes and if needed, seek proper treatment immediately,” says MediCard president and CEO Dr. Nicky Montoya.

Here’s what you need to know about diabetes:

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a health complication wherein the body either can’t produce insulin or does not use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone that enables the body to use glucose that is found in food for energy. There are several types of diabetes but the most common ones are Type 1, where the pancreas does not produce insulin; and Type 2, where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body does not use insulin properly.

What are its symptoms? People with diabetes experience frequent urination, excessive thirst, constant hunger,  irritability, blurry vision, extreme and unexplained fatigue, wounds or cuts that are slow to heal, weight loss even if you are eating more, and tingling, numbness or pain in the hands and feet. In some cases, individuals with diabetes don’t show any symptoms. That is why it is very important to visit your doctor regularly for check-ups.

What are its complications? People with diabetes are more at risk of having other serious health problems. They are more prone to infections. High glucose levels and high blood pressure can also lead to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, nerve disease and eye diseases, among others. To avoid complications, it’s important to regularly monitor and maintain your blood glucose levels, blood pressure and cholesterol.

How is it treated? To prevent complications of diabetes, Dr. Montoya recommends that diabetics should have a meal plan prescribed by a dietitian. Eating healthy and engaging in physical activities will help the body break down insulin better and convert glucose into energy. Some need to take insulin injections and oral agents, pills which help diabetics produce more insulin or utilize insulin better. Always remember to visit a diabetes specialist regularly to monitor your glucose level.

What should I do to prevent diabetes? To reduce your risk of diabetes, get moving and have a regular exercise routine like 30 minutes of walking a day. Dr. Montoya also recommends reducing your consumption of alcohol and processed sugars such as candies and sodas while adding more food rich in monounsaturated fats in your diet like avocados, nuts and olive oil.  

Learn how to combat diabetes. MediCard has numerous free-standing clinics located in key cities nationwide that offer endocrinology consultations. Visit a MediCard clinic near you or check out their website at www.medicardphils.com for more information.

Get unlimited check-ups with My MediCard health card

It is always advisable to consult a health professional rather than research or self-medicate whenever you feel sick. However, sometimes we have no choice but to self-medicate because check-ups with specialists can be costly. Worry no more because you can now have unlimited consultations with a medical expert with MediCard’s newest health card, My MediCard.

“Many people value the advice of a professional health expert but it can be expensive. Nonetheless, self-medication can come with its own set of dangers to your health. Thus, a consultation with a medical professional is invaluable. This is the reason we introduced a new product called My MediCard which allows members to have unlimited consultations with select MediCard accredited doctors nationwide and experience excellent medical services,” explains Dr. Nicky Montoya, MediCard president and CEO.

My MediCard is the ultimate health card for unlimited outpatient check-ups. My MediCard holders can avail of unlimited consultations with the following MediCard-accredited doctors in MediCard-accredited clinics and hospitals nationwide: family medicine, internal medicine, cardiologist, endocrinologist, pulmonologist, gastroenterologist and dentists. The new card also includes an annual oral prophylaxis (mild cases only).

MediCard also offers services such as preventive health care, hospital confinement, out-patient care, emergency care, and members’ financial assistance and dental care. With numerous free-standing clinics and satellite clinics nationwide, MediCard is committed to bringing the best and accessible medical service to its members.

Other clinic locations include MediCard Lifestyle Center, MediCard McKinley, MediCard Makati, MediCard Sta.Rosa, MediCard Alabang, MediCard Cavite, MediCard Calamba, MediCard Fairview, MediCard Ortigas, MediCard Clark, MediCard Sta. Lucia, and MediCard Cebu City.

You can avail of unlimited check-ups with My MediCard for only P3,600 and membership is good for one year. Membership eligibility includes individuals from 18 to 65 years old.

You can also check:

www.medicardphils.com and https://www.facebook.com/MEDICard.Philippines/.

Fast online approval for laboratory requests from MediCard

For some, part of having an HMO is securing a letter of approval
(LOA) for laboratory tests requested by doctors to help them
diagnose health problems accurately. These tests include blood
tests, urinalysis, chest x-ray, among others.

A letter of approval basically confirms that such tests are indeed
part of a member’s HMO coverage and authorizes the diagnostic
clinic to proceed with the requested tests. However, securing an
LOA may mean going through a process that can be slow and
inconvenient sometimes: A medical attendant gets your card,
then calls the HMO provider to advise them of the laboratory test
that needs to be done. Afterwhich, the patient waits for the
approval.

Now, Medicard, a leading health maintenance organization in the
Philippines, takes the hassle out of getting LOA as it introduces
Medicard Online LOA -- an online application that allows you to
easily request for a letter of approval for your laboratory and
diagnostic tests in the comfort of your own home or straight from
your mobile phone on the go.

“MediCard constantly aspires to make quality healthcare
accessible and more convenient for our members because we
value their time. With innovations such as the Medicard Online
LOA, we are able to eliminate a lengthy and time-consuming
wait period to get your LOA since online application allows quick
user convenience,” said Dr. Nicky Montoya.
Getting an LOA for laboratory and diagnostic tests can be done

MediCard teams up with Hanjin Subic Shipyard

MediCard teams up with Hanjin Subic Shipyard. MediCard, a leading health
maintenance organization (HMO) provider, has partnered with Hanjin Subic Shipyard to
provide innovative, advanced and efficient quality health service to its employees.
Hanjin Subic Shipyard is the 4th largest shipyard in the world and the sole contractor of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-Phil). With this partnership,

Hanjin Subic Shipyard employees now have access to MediCard’s wide network of
more than 1,000 accredited hospitals and clinics and over 40,000 accredited doctors
nationwide. In photo are HHIC-Tech President Mr. Park No Joon, HHIC-Phil Managing Director Mr. Jun Woo Yoon, Subic Shipbuilder Corporation President Mr. Kim Tae Jeon, MediCard President and CEO Dr. Nicky S. Montoya, MediCard COO Atty. Juan Andres S. Montoya and MediCard AVP for Sales and Business Development Maricel L. Torres.

The Doctor is Always in with MediCard’s My Pocket Doctor

MediCard, a leading health maintenance organization (HMO) provider, gives a time-saving and convenient option to get medical consultations anytime, anywhere with the My Pocket Doctor.

Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines, says, “My Pocket Doctor is definitely a game changer especially in the medical field. It is also our way of using modernized technology to make medical consultations handy for everyone. With less waiting time, patients can now get in touch easily with a medical doctor and get consultations instantly, at the comfort of their homes or offices.”

To use My Pocket Doctor, simply register on the My Pocket Doctor website (mypocketdoctor.com) or via the app through the App Store or Google Play Store and wait for an activation link with username and password. Users can also register via text by sending their email address and cellphone number to 29290DOCTOR (or 2929036-2867) and wait for a call from a nurse to complete their one-time registration.

After registration, a nurse will call the member for assessment to schedule the consultation with one of their doctors. A medical doctor will call the patient for a check-up and give prescriptions or instructions. Video call via webcam can also be done during medical consultation for cases that need visual assessment such as skin rashes.

My Pocket Doctor has highly competent, well-trained and unbiased medical doctors from Europe and Philippines who can cover up to 70% of all health issues in a consultation and are available 24/7, ensuring members an accessible and credible medical service. 

The MediCard My Pocket Doctor Card is for sale at P450 at select MediCard free-standing clinics. Soon, the card will be also sold online through MediCard’s online store.

*This is Press Release

Medicard - Triathlon for Beginners

Triathlon is an adrenaline-pumping activity that combines swimming, cycling and running in one event. It’s a popular sport in the Philippines, thanks in large part to celebrity triathletes who not only promote the sport to the general public but also make it look easy and fun to do. In reality, however, first-time triathletes need 3 to 6 months of preparation to finish the race without injury or burnout.

“It takes time to improve your endurance and stamina for a triathlon event. Aside from multisport training, you need to make healthy lifestyle choices—good nutrition, regular exercise, adequate rest, and having a positive attitude,” says Dr. Nicky Montoya, president of MediCard Philippines.

The MediCard 24.7 triathlon team shares the following advice for those who are planning to join a triathlon event:

1. Training is serious business. Be physically and mentally prepared. The way to becoming a triathlete is to live an active and healthy lifestyle all the time and to train harder when the triathlon event approaches. Do not join when you’re not physically and mentally ready to avoid hurting or exhausting yourself.

“Eating right has always been a conscious effort for me even before I became a triathlete,” says Vanessa Aguirre-Estrada. “When I prepare for a race, training and recovery dictates my nutrition. I don’t have a strict diet but when training season is at its peak, I store more protein in my meals. I reload carbs and hydrate for the whole day.”

2. Train early. On weekdays, assign a sport to do before and after work hours. Timmy Dadia shares, “During weekdays, I train for 1-2 hours of swimming, biking, running, or cross-training depending on the assigned sport of the day, in the morning or afternoon depending on my work schedule. On weekends, I wake up at 4:30AM so I can start biking at 6:00AM and end around lunchtime.”

3. Train with a buddy for encouragement and support. Working out and doing multisport activities alone can get boring and lonely. It’s the reason why triathletes typically train with their team or with a loved one who’s also into the sport. “During the weekdays, [my wife] Lyka trains in the gym and me on my own. We train together on weekends,” says Jamie Leather.

4. Find inspiration to motivate yourself when the training gets difficult. Lyka Leather advises, “Think about the upcoming race and look forward to enjoy the experience as opposed to the suffering. Picture yourself crossing the line happy, smiling and with no injuries.” Timmy Dadia shares, “I draw my inspiration from other athletes who are doing this sport. When the going gets tough, you get added inspiration when there’s a little competition between fellow triathletes.”

5. Never stop improving. The great thing about triathlons is that there’s always room for improvement with its three disciplines to “master.” It’s about one’s personal journey to fitness and sporting excellence. So if the first triathlon event intimidates you, strive to be better next time. “Try it!” encourages Vanessa Aguirre-Estrada. “The community is growing and you can have new friends to ride, run and swim with. Conquer the sport you least like and this can be your biggest challenge and your greatest achievement. Make it your bucket list to finish one race. It only takes one race for you to believe in the triathlon bug.” Before a triathlon training, consult your doctor first to check your health and fitness level through stress testing and annual examination to design a safe and effective training program. MediCard has 12 free-standing clinics located in key cities. For more information, visit www.medicardphils.com.