DPP aims to prevent millions from diabetes

Without preventive steps, Pakistan will have 65m diabetics by 2045

KARACHI:

To prevent millions of prediabetics from having full-blown diabetes, leading endocrinologists announced the launch of a nationwide Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), saying people at the risk of becoming diabetics would be approached through mass media and apprised to adopt Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) to remain fit and healthy throughout their lives.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is the project of the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES), which is concerned about the growing number of diabetics in the country, experts said, adding that if immediate preventive measures are not taken, Pakistan will become the largest nation of sick people with 65 million persons living with diabetes by 2045.

"Currently, we have around 33 million people living with diabetes, around 10 million unaware of their health condition, and millions are prediabetics or at risk of getting diabetes in the years to come. As we can't treat all of these people in our lifetime, we have decided to launch the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to prevent millions from getting this chronic illness", Dr Ibrar Ahmed, President of the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES) told Dawn on Monday.

According to him, the National Diabetes Prevention Program was officially launched by the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES) at a ceremony in Islamabad yesterday to prevent millions of prediabetics or those going to become diabetics in the years to come through awareness, guidance and regular counselling.

Dr Ibrar said hundreds of prediabetics would be recruited as part of a three-year national study and trained to adopt a healthy lifestyle to stay away from diabetes.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2022.