Gary Valenciano is a Diabetes Hero
By PSR News Bureau
Filipino musician and actor, Gary Valenciano has been living with type I diabetes since he was 14. Nakapanayam ng Philippine Showbiz Republic (PSR) kahapon ang tinaguriang ‘Mr. Pure Energy,’ at ayon sa kanya, hindi daw biro ang sakit na diabetes. Sa katunayan, dahil sa kanyang kondisyon ay makailang-beses na rin daw niya halos nakaharap ang kamatayan. Enero nga lang daw nitong taong kasalukuyan ay muntik na siyang hindi magising.
“At the time, I’ve just come from a concert. Then, I had a nap. The next thing I knew, they were trying to wake me from my sleep, but they said my pupils were dilated na. Good thing, Angeli, my wife knew exactly what to do so I was given my medication and all,” bungad sa amin ni Gary.
“It happens each time my sugar level drops,”dagdag ni Gary. “Sometimes it [sugar level] drops at 27 or 18. When it shoots up naman, it could go as high as 387. I’ve faced death a couple of times and I’m just so blessed to have been alive.”
Na-diagnosed si Gary na mayroong type I diabetes noong siya ay nasa high school sa La Salle Greenhills. Kuwento ni Gary, “My family noticed the amount of food I eat yet I don’t gain weight. So they had me checked sa family physician. Initially, they thought naninibago lang daw ako because I’ve just gotten home from the US at the time. But then eventually, yun nga, I was diagnosed to have this condition.”
Doctors say he’s gone beyond how a diabetic should live. “Generally, ang lifespan ng isang diabetic from his diagnosis is 30 years lang. After my diagnosis, I was given 30 more years to live. And so far, it’s been 37 years since my diagnosis and thank God, I’m still alive and kicking!,” masaya nitong kuwento sa Philippine Showbiz Republic (PSR). “Somehow somebody’s got bigger plans for me.”
At 51, Gary’s still able to perform and he’s also been fulfilling his bucket list. “Diabetics should be out there enjoying himself. He must be active to burn the glucose he takes in,” sabi pa ni Gary.
Para kay Mr. Pure Energy, advocacy na niya ang magbigay ng impormasyon sa publiko tungkol sa diabetes. Nalulungkot din daw siya na dumarami na rin ngayon ang mga tulad niyang artista na nagkakaroon nito, gaya na lamang ng komedyanang si Joy Viado na muntikan pang i-amputate ang isang paa dahil sa nasabing kondisyon.
Laking pasasalamat din daw ni Gary na walang mayroong diabetes sa kanyang mga anak kahit na sinasabi sa mga pag-aaral na namamana ang ganitong kalagayan. “Luckily, my children do not have diabetes. Although Gab and Pao [his sons] would sometimes suffer from hypoglycemia.”
Maaring masabing hindi naging normal ang buhay ni Gary dahil madami itong kailangan isakripisyo dahil nga sa nasabing kondisyon. Madaming bawal na pagkain at kinakailangan maging maingat sa kanyang mga kakainin. “I can’t eat pizza because each time I do, my sugar level shoots up kahit two slices lang iyan. Pero I’ve learned through time na there are some things that’s worth sacrificing for.”
Hindi daw hinahayaan ni Gary na maging hadlang ang pagkakaroon niya ng diabetes para gawin ang mga bagay na gusto niyang gawin. “I used to dream of flying. Recently, I was able to try skydiving. Yung sinakyan kong airplane looks like a tricycle with wings. I’ve done 20 seconds of free fall. It was indeed very fulfilling. Para akong bata na nagsisisigaw dun sa ere sa tuwa. It felt so liberating to be up there in the air.”
“Nothing should stop you from doing whatever it is that you wanted to do, not even diabetes. I’ve tried doing Zumba, biking, skydiving, and aquanaut [close encounter with underwater creatures]. They all gave me a thrill and these are the kind of experiences which I will not trade for anything.”
With his status in local showbiz, maaaring ituring na isang diabetes hero si Gary Valenciano. Nais daw niyang gamitin ang kanyang pangalan at ang lahat ng kanyang makakaya para mapalaganap ang kamalayan ng mga tao sa sakit na diabetes. Kinakailangan daw maintindihan ang dahilan ng sakit na ito, ang paraan para maiwasan ito at malaman ng tao ang kahalagahan ng kanilang kalusugan.
Para sa isang artist na gaya ni Gary Valenciano, hindi lamang malaking ambag sa industriya ang maibibigay na pamana o legacy ni Mr. Pure Energy kung hindi isang mahalagang kaalaman at impormasyon na makakasagip ng buhay ng nakararami dahil sa adbokasiya niyang ito.
