PESHAWAR: “Type 2 #diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder in which prevalence has been increasing steadily all over the world.
The rapid spread of diabetes mellitus is like an epidemic. The estimated number of people with diabetes in Pakistan is 7.1 million in 2010, and now it is expected to increase to 12.8 million by the year 2035.
No cure has yet been found for the disease. Annually 40,000 people lost their legs due to diabetics in the country. Education of the population is still a key to the control of this emerging epidemic.”
These views were expressed by Dr. Abdul Basit, Professor of Medicine at Baqai Medical University and Director, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, while delivering a Public Awareness lecture on “Diabetes”, held at Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi (UoK) on Wednesday.
The public awareness seminar was jointly organised by PCMD, UoK and Virtual Education Project Pakistan (VEPP). Health professionals, students, research scholars, NGO representatives, and general public attended the program.
He said that it is fast becoming an epidemic in some countries of the world with the number of people affected expected to double in the next decade due to increase in ageing population, thereby adding to the already existing burden for healthcare providers, especially in poorly developed countries.
“The increased rate of childhood obesity between the 1960s and 2000s is believed to have led to the increase in type 2 DM in children and adolescents.
There is a strong inheritable genetic connection in type 2 DM, having relatives (especially first degree) with type 2 DM increases the risks of developing type 2 DM substantially.
Around 9.6 million children are affected with obesity in the country; these children need extra attention to be prevented from diabetes. Tests for screening and diagnosis of DM are readily available.
No cure has yet been found for the disease; however, treatment modalities include lifestyle modifications, treatment of obesity, oral hypoglycemic agents, and insulin,” he said.
People living with type 2 DM are more vulnerable to various forms of both short- and long-term complications, which often lead to their premature death, he stated, adding that studies have shown that there was significant reduction in the incidence of type 2 DM with a combination of maintenance of body mass index of 25 kg/m2 low in saturated and trans-fats and glycemic index, regular exercise and abstinence from smoking.
He pointed out that this metabolic disease can be prevented through lifestyle modification, diet control, and control of overweight and obesity.
Novel drugs are being developed, yet no cure is available in sight for the disease, despite new insight into the patho-physiology of the disease; management should be tailored to improve the quality of life of individuals with type 2 DM, he maintained.
He stressed the need to educate people regarding the management of the disease as using a healthy lifestyle, taking good food, doing regular exercise for 30 to 60 minutes and through 'Natural Life Style' this disease can be managed.
He said that 1000 steps a day can prevent anyone from the disease. - PPI
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