Healthcare: ‘Pakistan ranked 7th in diabetes prevalence’

Student volunteers organised by GCUF to raise awareness of the disease.


Our Correspondent July 18, 2013
The diabetes has affected 240 million people worldwide and the number could increase up to 380 million by 2025, says VC GCUF.

FAISALABAD:


As many as 6.9 million people suffer from diabetes in Pakistan and the figure could go up to 11.5 million by 2025 if steps are not taken now to control the disease, Government College University, Faisalabad (GCUF) Vice Chancellor Zakir Hussain said on Thursday.


He was speaking at a seminar titled, Diabetes and the Month of Fasting, organised by the Directorate of Medical Sciences here at the GCUF.

Hussain said the disease affected 240 million people worldwide and the number could increase up to 380 million by 2025. He said medical experts, social workers and educationists needed to work together to control the disease.

He said people with Type-1 diabetes were recommended not to fast. He said those with Type-2 diabetes could fast if their doctors advised.



Dr Surayya Zakir, the chief guest, said diabetes needed to be controlled by adopting proper diets and exercise. She said in Ramazan, the best time to exercise was 20-30 minutes before sehar and 20-30 minutes after taraveeh.

She said sweet potatoes were good for diabetes patients. She said a controlled level of sugar should be taken by those fasting. “80-130 mg of sugar before sehar, 80-120 mg after iftarf and 140 to 160 mg two hours after iftar are sufficient,” she said.

Dean Naureen Aziz Qureshi said Pakistan was currently ranked 7th in diabetics prevalence and may go up to 4th spot in the coming decade.

She said the country was a major challenge for healthcare providers and the situation demanded collaborative efforts by diabetics, students, educationist’s healthcare professionals and policymakers.

She said 2,000 student volunteers had been organised by GCUF to raise awareness of the disease and the precautions to be taken.

Dr Riaz Hussain said Directorate of Medical Sciences, Microbiology Dept, Pharmacy Dept, Directorate of Home Economics and Food Nutrition and Sociology Department would soon launch a comprehensive campaign to spread awareness about fatal diseases, precautionary measures against them and advantages of healthy lifestyles.

Dr Nighat Bhatti said prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes patients was 5 per cent in men and 4.8 per cent in women from rural areas. She said the prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes patients in urban areas was 5.1 per cent for men and 6.8 per cent for women in urban areas.

The session was chaired by Dr Zakir Hussain. Dr Altafur Rehman and Dr Asif Saleem also spoke on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2013.

COMMENTS (1)

ralphla54 | 10 years ago | Reply

ADA Poster Presentation Abstract from the June Chicago convention Lorcaserin, (Belviq) a selective 5-HT2C agonist, was recently approved for weight management in conjunction with lifestyle modification in obese patients (BMI ≥30) and overweight patients (BMI ≥27) with at least one co-morbidity. In patients without diabetes, proportions achieving ≥5% weight loss and absolute weight loss at Week (W)52 for lorcaserin vs. placebo were 47 vs. 23% and 5.8 vs. 2.5kg respectively (MITT-LOCF). In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results were 38 vs.16% and 4.7 vs.1.6kg respectively.

To limit exposure and maximize benefit the predictive value for >5% W52 weight loss was assessed at W12. Patients not losing at least 5% at W12 (non-responders) should be discontinued.

Proportions of responders without diabetes lorcaserin vs. placebo were 49.3 vs. 22.6%. W52 weight loss in lorcaserin responders without diabetes was 10.6kg (23 lbs) with 86% and 50% achieving at least 5% and 10% weight loss respectively.

Proportions of responders with T2DM lorcaserin vs. placebo were 35.9 vs. 11.5%. W52 weight loss in lorcaserin responders with T2DM was 9.3kg (20 lbs) with 71% and 36% achieving 5% and 10% weight loss. W52 reductions in FPG and A1C in lorcaserin responders with T2DM were 29.3mg/dL and 1.2%. W52 reductions in systolic and diastolic BP and heart rate were 3.4mmHg 2.5mmHg and 2.5BPM in lorcaserin responders without diabetes and 2.6mmHg 1.9mmHg and 3.2BPM in lorcaserin responders with T2DM.

Achievement of ≥5% weight loss by W12 is a strong predictor of robust one-year lorcaserin responses in weight cardiovascular vital signs and glycemia.

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