Like other parts of the globe, "World Diabetes Day 2011" is being observed here on Monday (November 14) in a bid to raise public awareness about harmful effects of diabetes and its complications so as with the increased awareness, goal of healthy society could be achieved.
To mark the day, diabetic camps, scientific sessions, seminars, walks and other activities have been planned by different organisations, as the day raises awareness of diabetes. Started by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and WHO, this day is celebrated on 14 November to mark the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, was instrumental in the discovery of insulin in 1922, a life-saving treatment for diabetes patients.
WHO estimates that more than 346 million people world-wide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 2030 without intervention. Almost 80 percent of diabetes related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries. Health professionals told Business Recorder that Pakistan will be having 16 million people with diabetes, if current eating habits and living style are not changed by those at risk of developing the disease.
According to them, warning signs of diabetes are often overlooked. Frequent urination, excessive thirst, weight loss, lack of interest and concentration, blurred vision, vomiting and stomach pain are among some of the symptoms of diabetes. If Type-1 diabetes, or the inability of the body to create insulin due to an autoimmune disorder, is not detected at an early stage in children it can be difficult to manage. With early diagnosis and access to care however, diabetes can be controlled.
Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist Dr Ali Jawa told this scribe that self-monitoring of diabetes, which includes regular blood sugar and insulin level checks, is crucial to early detection of diabetes. More importantly, self-management plans have to fit a patient's goals, priorities and lifestyles as well as their specific type of diabetes for treatment to be successful.
To a query, he said the risk of developing Type-2 diabetes, on the rise in children, is linked with increased obesity, which can be managed by making healthy dietary choices and increasing physical activity. Various complications which may arise from diabetes include disease of the blood vessels, stroke, nerve damage, amputations, kidney failure, blindness, and foot fungous or gangrene.
Awareness about these complications is crucial as they increase disability and health costs and reduce life expectancy and productivity. According to him, a 30-minute daily walk reduced the occurrence of diabetes by 40-percent in a normal person. Heart attack and stroke was one of the main complications and as the disease progresses life becomes miserable. The factors leading to diabetes mellitus were obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, family history, ethnic background and previous diabetes in pregnancy.
Moreover, a free diabetic camp is going to be held at Lahore General Hospital on Monday where a number of diabetic patients would be facilitated for all kinds of necessary medical free of cost. Medical experts will guide and aware the patients and their attendants about the preventive measures against diabetes. An awareness walk and seminar will also be held in which doctors, nurses, student nurses, paramedical staff and prominent political and social figures will participate.
Principal Post Graduate Medical Institute and Lahore General Hospital Professor Dr Tariq Salah-ud-Din said that separate counters would be established for male and female patients at free diabetes camp organised by Medical Unit-I on November 14. He said that doctors from departments of surgery, urology, medial, gynaecology, eye and paediatrics would also be available at the camp to guide the sugar affectees and give them the suitable consultancy.
He said that the hospital administration has also finalised arrangements to save the computerised data of all the diabetic patients coming to LGH on November 14 and afterward. Dr Tariq said that diabetes has become a fast spreading disease and its major causes are over eating, lacking physical exercise and family background. He emphasised the young doctors to focus on knowledge and research in order to rid modern diseases of current age.