To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators (PADE) and the Association of Diabetes Nurse Educators of the Philippines (ADNEP) hosted the 14th PADE-ADNEP Joint Annual Convention last August 26-27, 2016. The event, which was held at the Century Park Hotel Manila, took on a retrospective premise and looked back at how far our country has come in terms of diabetes management. It also made sure to highlight the various misconceptions we have about diabetes, campaigning to leave the myths behind and to focus on the facts and innovations of diabetes care. The convention was aptly themed ‘You have come a long way… Diabetes Education: Curbing Myths, Crafting Knowledge.’

The doors were opened on August 26, 2016 at 8:00 AM for the participants to flock in and have themselves registered. Majority of the guests were from the medical field, ranging from nurses to pharmacists to nutritionists, and were all united that day by a single purpose: to learn more about diabetes treatment and management. The guests were treated with lectures from some of the distinguished names of our medical industry. This list included Carmelita C. Divinagracia, PhD, MN, RN of the Professional Regulation Commission, President Milabel Enriquez-Ho, EdD, MAN, RN of Western Mindanao State University, and Leorino M. Sobrepeña, MD, FPCP, MS of the Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation, Inc. For two days, the convention tackled pressing issues on diabetes like the effects of anti-diabetic drugs on pregnant women and the place of diabetes educators in the ASEAN integration. The participants were also encouraged to conduct their own researches on diabetes with a case presentation prepared by the convention’s research committee.

Throughout the event, the guests were granted access to the exhibits set up by various medical companies. MAN Pharma was one of the companies given the opportunity to put its own booth up for the event. We seized the chance to showcase our latest technologies on diabetes care, promoting them to the numerous medical representatives in attendance. Our participation in the conference further proved our commitment to aiding diabetes care professionals with the best equipment in battling the disease.

It could be said that the two-day conference’s success was the result of the multiple factors it had going for itself: its renowned line-up of speakers, its well-managed program, its conducive venue, etc. But its accomplishment was mostly due to its guests. These knowledge-seeking medical practitioners left that evening of August 27 with a deeper sense of understanding on diabetes care and a clearer role in promoting proper diabetes education. With these in their minds, PADE-ADNEP delivered what they had set out to do: to learn from the past for a better future.