The menace of diabetes: 8,400 patients to benefit from insulin banks

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa doctors appreciate the decision to establish 10 such facilities .

PESHAWAR:

Health experts have welcomed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government’s decision to establish insulin banks in 10 hospitals in the province, terming it a good initiative if properly executed.

Minister for Information Shah Farman told the media on November 5 the provincial cabinet has approved the establishment of the insulin banks at a cost of Rs25 million. The funds would be released to the K-P health department soon, Farman had shared. Around 8,400 patients in the province are expected to benefit from this initiative.

Farman had said the insulin banks would be established in 10 hospitals including, Hayatabad Medical Complex (HMC), Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) and Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) in Peshawar, Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad, District Headquarters Technical Hospital Kohat, District Headquarters Teaching Hospital DI Khan, District Headquarters Hospital Bannu, Saidu Teaching Hospital Swat and Mardan Medical Complex.

The diabetes epidemic

Currently, Pakistan has nearly 7.5 million diabetic patients. By 2030, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) predicts Pakistan will rank fourth on the list of top ten diabetes prevalent countries with approximately 13.9 million afflicted.

HMC’s Professor Dr AH Aamir told The Express Tribune on Sunday a National Diabetes Survey – conducted in K-P over ten years ago in 1999 – revealed there were approximately 0.3 million diabetics.

Every day hundreds of patients visit HMC and other hospitals as the number of diabetics in K-P continues to rise, added Aamir.

Appreciating the establishment of insulin banks, Dr Aamir explained this would help facilitate patients as on average they need 50 to 60 units of insulin per day, which can prove very expensive.

“A bank will be established at HMC from where we will provide insulin to other hospitals too. Patients who register themselves with HMC would be provided insulin free of cost for a year.” KTH Chief Executive Inayat Shah Roghani also lauded the government’s decision. “The move will benefit a lot of people if the government works on it with seriousness and practicality.” Roghani shared there are no facilities for insulin provision at government hospitals the moment.

A lifelong affliction

Dr Aamir explained there are two types of diabetics. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease and affects younger people and children. Type 2 occurs in adults or older people and is caused by external reasons such as stress or unhealthy dietary lifestyle.

“The disease’s symptoms range from body aches, specifically pain in the limbs, inability to cope with daily routine due to excessive fatigue, feeling tired and unintentional weight loss or even weight gain,” said Dr Aamir.

Other symptoms included excessive thirst, dryness in the mouth and the urge to urinate more frequently than normal. “In case a person experiences these symptoms they should consult a doctor at once,” cautioned the doctor.

Additionally, if a diabetic person accidently gets injured they need to take special care of the wounds or they could get gangrene or even cancer, he warned.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th,2013.