KARACHI: Complications of diabetes are rising at a pace the health system cannot contain, with millions at risk of blindness, kidney failure, heart disease and limb amputations, senior diabetologists and endocrinologists warned on Wednesday.
The warning came at a press conference held at the Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, where specialists called for a national prevention drive to curb avoidable disability.
BIDE Director Dr Zahid Miyan said diabetes has reached a dangerous level in Pakistan, with around 35 million people living with the disease and nearly one third unaware of their condition. “If you combine diabetes, pre-diabetes and poor glucose control, almost 85 million Pakistanis are living with dysglycemia. This is a staggering number,” he said.
Dr Miyan said every year more patients are reporting severe complications. Around 28 percent develop visual impairment, over 25 percent face kidney problems, and heart disease is rising sharply in young adults.
He warned that diabetic foot cases are increasing at a rate that threatens thousands of households. “People ignore numbness and minor wounds. By the time they seek help, their limbs are already at risk. Amputation destroys families and pushes them into depression and poverty,” he added.
He said more than half of amputees face severe psychological stress and almost 50 percent die within five years. “One amputation affects an entire household. Treating diabetic foot can cost more than 15 months of a family’s income. Most people cannot afford it,” he said.
The press conference highlighted a new partnership between BIDE and Discovering Diabetes, an initiative supported by Pharmevo.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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