Diabetes in women termed alarming

Pakistan among countries with most patients

LAHORE:

Pakistan is among the countries with the highest ratio of diabetes patients, while a majority of them area suffering due to expensive treatment.

The percentage of diabetes is among women is alarming both in the cities and villages. By adopting a healthy lifestyle we can control this disease, said speakers at a seminar in connection with World Diabetes Day.

The seminar was organised by Prof M Zaman Shaikh, Chair, National Diabetes Chapter, Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM), and Sir Syed College of Medical Science Karachi with the collaboration of Express Media Group. It was sponsored by High-Q Pharmaceuticals, Nabiqasim Pharma, Macter, Sanofi, Helix Pharma, Ferozesons Laboratories and Servier.

Renowned Professors and medical professionals, including Prof Javed Akram, Prof M Zaman Shaikh, Prof Tariq Waseem, Prof Aftab Mohsin, Dr Somia Iqtadar, Dr Nabeel Akbar Chaudhry, Prof Azizur Rehman, Editor Forums Ajmal Sattar Malik, and Dr Hina Latif, were among the speakers, while a large number of medical students and people from different walks of life attended the seminar.

President PSIM and former health minister Prof Javed Akram, the chief guest, briefly discussed the current status of diabetes in the country and future challenges to control the disease.

"As compared to others countries of the world, the treatment of the disease is expensive and difficult for common people. About 90 per cent people in the country cannot afford the treatment and medicines of diabetes. The tragedy is that many diabetes patients reach towards dialysis after five years and it is also bad luck that our hospitals have shortage of dialysis machines and infrastructure," said Prof Akram.

Prof Azizur Rehman said, "Diabetes is among those diseases that cannot be controlled without controlling daily food. Mostly People think that only controlling sugar can counter diabetes but in fact fruit, juices, rice and flour also increase glucose level in body. Whatever medicine you will take to control diabetes will not be sufficient till control on your food so people should prefer natural foods in routine."

Dr Somia Iqtadar said, "We live in an undeveloped country where females are given less opportunities to care about their health. Diabetes is speedily spreading among the females and every 5th female in the country is diabetic. There was an impression that mostly female in cities suffer from diabetes but research showed that the ratio of female patients in the villages is also high. There is need that we take active steps to control debates so that in future we can handle this disease."