Dr. Maria Teresa Verzosa-Orlino Family Medicine Clinic

24/02/2026

Diabetes — The Silent Killer:
Why you may feel normal while damage is already happening?

Many people tell me:
“Doctor, I feel perfectly fine. I just have a little high sugar.”
This is the biggest danger of diabetes.
Diabetes usually does not cause pain in the beginning.
No fever.
No obvious symptoms.
No weakness initially.
And that is exactly why it is called a Silent Killer.
High blood sugar does not harm you in a single day.
It slowly damages your organs every single day — quietly.
By the time symptoms appear, the damage has often already started.
1. Eyes – Diabetic Retinopathy
The tiny blood vessels inside the retina get damaged by high sugar levels.
Early stage → no symptoms at all.
Later → blurred vision, black spots, and sometimes permanent blindness.
Important fact:
Many patients discover diabetes only when they go to an eye doctor because their vision started decreasing.
2. Kidneys – Diabetic Nephropathy
Your kidneys act as a filter for your blood.
Constant high sugar slowly destroys this filter.
Initially: • No pain
• No warning signs
Later: • Swelling of feet
• Weakness
• Reduced urine function
In advanced stages, patients may require dialysis.
Today, diabetes is one of the most common reasons for dialysis in India.
3. Nerves – Diabetic Neuropathy
High glucose damages nerves, especially in the feet.
Patients experience: • Burning sensation in feet
• Tingling or numbness
• Night pain
• Feeling of walking on cotton
Because sensation decreases, small injuries go unnoticed.
4. Heart – Heart Attack Risk
A diabetic person has 2–4 times higher risk of heart attack compared to a non-diabetic.
Even more dangerous: Some diabetics get a silent heart attack without severe chest pain.
5. Brain – Stroke
Uncontrolled diabetes damages blood vessels in the brain and increases stroke risk significantly.
6. Feet – The Most Preventable Tragedy
This is something every diabetic must know.
Because of nerve damage + poor blood circulation: Small cuts or shoe bites do not heal.
They slowly become infected wounds.
If ignored → gangrene → amputation.
The sad truth: Most diabetic amputations are preventable with early control and proper foot care.
The Most Important Message
You do NOT feel high sugar damaging your organs.
When symptoms start — diabetes has usually been uncontrolled for years.
Diabetes treatment should depend on blood sugar reports, not how you feel.
Regular checkups, proper medicines, diet control and walking can prevent most complications.
Control sugar today, or complications will control your life tomorrow.
— Dr. Israrul Khan

24/02/2026

HbA1c — The Most Important Test Every Diabetic Must Know
Many patients proudly tell me:

“Doctor, yesterday my sugar was normal.”
But diabetes is not judged by one day’s sugar report.
The most important test for long-term control is called HbA1c.
Let’s understand it in simple language.
What is HbA1c?
HbA1c (also called Glycated Hemoglobin) shows your average blood sugar level of the last 3 months.
When sugar circulates in your blood, some of it sticks to hemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells).
The higher your blood sugar, the more sugar sticks.
Since red blood cells live for about 3 months, HbA1c reflects your 3-month sugar history.
That is why it is much more reliable than a single fasting or post-meal sugar test.
Why is HbA1c so Important?
Because diabetes complications depend on long-term sugar control, not one good reading.
You may have: • Normal sugar today
• But uncontrolled sugar for months
And that is what damages: 👁 Eyes
🩺 Kidneys
🦵 Nerves
🫀 Heart
HbA1c tells the real story.
Normal and Diabetic Ranges
For most adults:
• Below 5.7% → Normal
• 5.7% – 6.4% → Prediabetes
• 6.5% or more → Diabetes
For most diabetic patients, the general target is:
👉 Below 7%
(Some elderly patients or high-risk individuals may have slightly different targets based on doctor advice.)
A Simple Way to Understand HbA1c
HbA1c 6% ≈ average sugar around 126 mg/dL
HbA1c 7% ≈ around 154 mg/dL
HbA1c 8% ≈ around 183 mg/dL
HbA1c 9% ≈ around 212 mg/dL
Every 1% increase significantly increases risk of complications.
How Often Should You Check HbA1c?
• Every 3 months if sugar is uncontrolled
• Every 6 months if stable
If someone has never checked HbA1c — that means we don’t know how well diabetes is actually controlled.
Most Common Mistake
Many patients: ✔ Check fasting sugar
✔ Check post-meal sugar
But ignore HbA1c.
This is like checking today’s weather and ignoring the climate of the whole season.
Final Message
Do not judge diabetes control by:
“I feel fine.”
Do not judge it by:
“One normal report.”
Judge it by your HbA1c.
Because complications depend on your 3-month average, not today’s mood of sugar.
— Dr. Israrul Khan

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Mga dapat gawin para maiwasan ang LEPTOSPIROSIS!! Ang sakit na maaring magdulot ng habang buhay na pagpapaDIALYSIS o PAGKAMATAY!

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LORMA TB DOTS Center

As a hospital-based DOTS Facility, the goal is to increase case detection and to enhance the delivery of DOTS Services at Lorma Medical Center.

As a Private Public Mix DOTS Center, the overall goal is to increase TB case detection, improve cure rate and synchronize the management of TB in the public and private health sectors.

Visit Lorma Medical Center TBDOTS UNIT for your health concerns.

For Inquiries call: (072) 7000 000 loc. 233

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A reminder from Lorma TB DOTS
Ang taong may TB na 2 linggo "nang naggamot at may negative follow up smear microscopy ay HINDI NA NAKAKAHAWA!
No to discrimination!

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Congratulations Lorma Medical Center!!
Kudos to our Marketing/ HR Department Director Ma'am Emily Gacad.

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DYK: Unvaccinated people are around 10 times more likely to get seriously ill with COVID-19 than people who have been vaccinated. Get all vaccine doses recommended to you as soon as you can. Your health is precious.

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