'Pakistan among most diabetic states'

Half of patients unaware of disease, warns specialist

LAHORE:

Pakistan is among the countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes with the number of patients continuously increasing, speakers said at a World Diabetes Day seminar.

The Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM) and Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences, Karachi, in collaboration with the Express Media Group, organised the seminar titled "Early Action on Diabetes". Pharmaceutical companies Getz Pharma, Nabiqasim Pharma, Martin Dow, ATCO, HIGH-Q, Highnoon, PharmEvo, Hoechst Pakistan, Searle, Scilife and Servier also supported the programme.

PSIM Patron-in-Chief Professor Javed Akram was the chief guest and President Professor Aftab Mohsin guest of honour. Professor M Zaman Shaikh. Chairman of the PSIM National Diabetes Chapter organised the seminar. A number of medical professionals, students and people from different walks of life attended the event.

Professor Dr Javed Akram said on the occasion that around 80 per cent people in the country were suffering from diabetes, while half of them were unaware that they had developed the disease.

The tragedy, he added, was that the remaining people were also at risk of becoming diabetic.

"This is an important issue, and preventing diabetes seems difficult. It is the responsibility of the government and every individual to play their role in combating this disease. The good thing is that it is preventable, and by adopting a healthy lifestyle, we can control it. If we manage our weight and start exercising, half of the disease burden can be overcome. If diabetes runs in a family, the risk of developing the disease increases. Once a person becomes a patient, the disease damages the entire body.