Experts urge tech-driven diabetes care

Over 45 million Pakistanis living with or at risk of disease

LAHORE:

Pakistan is facing a worsening diabetes crisis with around 34.5 million adults currently living with the disease and more than 10 million others at high risk, senior diabetologists warned on Monday.

Digital healthcare and technology-driven initiatives were essential to tackle the growing epidemic, they stressed during an awareness event where diabetologists, physicians, general practitioners, educators and patients discussed the rising burden of diabetes and the need for standardised technology-based care across the country.

Experts said Pakistan had one of the highest diabetes prevalence rates in the world, with nearly one in every three adults affected by the disease. According to the International Diabetes Federation, the country's adult diabetes prevalence stands at 31.4 per cent while over 226,000 diabetes related deaths occur annually in Pakistan.

Endocrinologist Dr Syed Abbas Raza said the disease had reached epidemic proportions and millions of people were developing serious complications due to delayed diagnosis, unhealthy lifestyles and poor disease control. "Almost 27% diabetic patients in Pakistan remain undiagnosed and continue living with the disease unknowingly. By the time many patients are diagnosed, complications have already started," he warned.

He said uncontrolled diabetes was leading to kidney failure, blindness, amputations, strokes and heart disease, adding that unhealthy eating habits, junk food consumption, obesity, physical inactivity and poor sleep were major contributors.

Professor Abbas Raza said the country was facing a severe shortage of diabetes specialists.

"With over 34 million diabetic patients and a very limited number of endocrinologists and diabetologists available in major cities only, it is impossible for specialists alone to physically monitor and counsel every patient," he said.

According to figures shared at the event, Pakistan has 43 to 53 endocrinology centres and an estimated 123 diabetology specialist practices, leaving millions of patients in smaller cities and rural areas without proper access to specialised care. "Technology is now the only practical way to reach millions of people. Digital healthcare platforms, virtual consultations, diabetes monitoring gadgets and artificial intelligence based systems can help bridge this huge gap," he maintained.

He advised patients to regularly monitor key indicators to avoid life threatening complications.

UNICEF collaboration

The University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Monday launched a capacity-building programme in collaboration with UNICEF for incorporating nutrition and child health interventions into the MBBS curriculum across Punjab.

The initiative began with a three-day training workshop on community-based management of acute malnutrition, attended by medical educationists, paediatricians, public health experts and healthcare trainers from medical colleges and teaching hospitals across the province.

Specialised training will also be conducted by next month on infant and young child feeding, early childhood development and multiple micronutrient supplementation. According to a statement, the workshops are designed to harmonise nutrition-related teaching in undergraduate medical education in line with UNICEF and World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations.