Blog Archives

Alopecia Areata - an autoimmune condition

Alopecia Areata - an autoimmune condition image

About Alopecia Areata Alopecia areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system mistakenly fights the hair follicles from which hairs grow. The consequences of this disease include hair loss on the head and in some cases, in other places on the body such as the pubic region, eyebrows, eyelashes etc. Generally, the hair falls in a few smaller round patches. Although in some people hair loss can be larger, the condition usually does not surpass beyond these bare patches. It is possible for the disease to lead a total loss of hair on the head (alopecia totalis) or complete » » » [Read more]

Dwight C. Black, MD

Dwight C. Black, MD image

Specializes in Adult Diseases, Diabetes, Goiter… Specialty: Internal Medicine Subspecialty: Endocrinology Clinic Address & Schedule: Assumption Medical Diagnostic Center Room 310, 10 Assumption Road Baguio City, Benguet 2600 Philippines Phone: (074) 444 5339 Schedule: Mon: 2:00PM – 6:00PM Tue: 2:00PM – 6:00PM Wed: 2:00PM – 6:00PM Thu: 2:00PM – 6:00PM Fri: 2:00PM – 6:00PM Metro Urdaneta Specialists Medical Diagnostic Center Room 202 EF Square Building McArthur Highway Urdaneta City Pangasinan 2428 Philippines Phone: (075) 656 0198

Albert Liu Chu, MD

Albert Liu Chu, MD image

Specialty: Internal Medicine Subspecialty: Endocrinology Background: Doctor of Medicine: Cebu Doctors’ University Postgraduate Internship: Chong Hua Hospital Residency in Internal Medicine: Chong Hua Hospital Fellowship training in Diabetes, Goiter, General Endocrinology: University of Sto. Tomas Hospital Research Fellowship: National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Clinic Address & Schedule: Chong Hua Hospital Room 506 Chong Hua Medical Arts Center J. Llorrente St., Cebu City 6000 Philippines Phone: (032) 255 1116 Schedule: Mon: 8:00AM – 11:00AM Tue: 8:00AM – 11:00AM Wed: 8:00AM – 11:00AM Thu: 8:00AM – 11:00AM Fri: 8:00AM – 11:00AM Sat: 8:00AM – 11:00AM Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital Room » » » [Read more]

Allanbert G. Sampana, MD, FPCP

Allanbert G. Sampana, MD, FPCP image

Graduate of the college of medicine of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Training in Internal Medicine at Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center. Completed fellowship training in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and metabolism at UP-PGH.

The Burden Of Diabetes

The Burden Of Diabetes image

Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, you are a diabetic for life. That’s often said and it is true. Diabetes mellitus is a lifetime illness that involves high blood sugar levels which promotes complications if neglected. But it is not the high blood sugar level that kills you, it’s the complication. Hence, being a diabetic, one needs continuing medical care to achieve target blood sugar levels to prevent these complications. The burden of diabetes is steadily increasing globally. Because of rapid urbanization, change in nutrition brought about by the increasing popularity of fast food due to the busy lifestyle of » » » [Read more]

Association Of Vitamin D Level And Insulin Resistance

It has come as a surprise to see a lot of people with vitamin d deficiency in a tropical country like the Philippines with almost a year-round sunshine. Vitamin D, also called the sunshine hormone, has effect on our bone, immune system, metabolism and even mood. Studies say that the reduced pigmentation of light-skinned individuals results in higher vitamin D level. On the other hand, melanin, the skin pigment, which is present in greater quantity in dark-skinned individuals, act like a sun-block resulting to decreased conversion of vitamin D precursors in the skin. This is the reason why dark-skinned individuals » » » [Read more]

Stupid Guideline Tricks: Am I Fat Enough, Yet?

Stupid Guideline Tricks: Am I Fat Enough, Yet? image

Thinking is hard work. This is why so few people bother. At least voluntarily. So whenever it seems like the threat of brainwork looms in modern American medicine, we can thank our lucky stars for the geniuses behind healthcare “reform” and guidelines of care. This comes up as a result of a conversation that I had with a patient the other day. A pleasant, obese gentleman. He had been struggling with his weight and Type II diabetes for some time, and there were now some early indications of some potentially serious long-term complications. He mentioned to me that he was » » » [Read more]

Diabetic Ketoacidosis In A Patient With Thyroid Storm: A Case Report

Diabetic Ketoacidosis In A Patient With Thyroid Storm:  A Case Report image

M.K., a 25 year-old female, Filipina-Japanese, presented at the Emergency Room due to abdominal pain. Her aunt stated that she had been noted to be very irritable for the past week before consult but attributed it to stress from the patient’s new job. She had been complaining of epigastric pain but only took AlMgOH, an antacid, which provided slight relief. The patient also claimed that she had been having nausea and had poor appetite, hence did not inject insulin for the past 2 days. She also experienced palpitation, heat intolerance, hyperdefecation and lightheadedness. The patient is a diagnosed case of » » » [Read more]

A Comparative Study of the Effect of Vildagliptin and Glimepiride on Glucose Variability in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Inadequate Glycemic Control on Metformin

A Comparative Study of the Effect of Vildagliptin and Glimepiride on Glucose Variability in Type 2 Diabetic Patients With Inadequate Glycemic Control on Metformin image

Authors: Odessa G. Tolentino-Wilson, M.D., FPCP Augusto D. Litonjua, M.D., FPCP, FPSEM, FACE Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism Makati Medical Center INTRODUCTION: Vildagliptin is a member of the dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor (DPP-IV inhibitor) class of drugs. These drugs are believed to improve glucose variability by restoring the physiologic pattern of insulin secretion. Vildagliptin improves glycemia by improving beta and alpha cells’ sensitivity to glucose.1 This addresses the impaired glucose-mediated suppression of glucagon secretion in diabetes that results in increased hepatic glucose output and subsequently hyperglycemia.2 In a study that compared the effect of vildagliptin and glimepiride on prandial glucagon » » » [Read more]