Medical specialists have underlined the need of widespread screening for diabetes in the country to check the growing incidence of this metabolic disorder. Speaking to mark the World Diabetes Day organised by SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation) here on Saturday, the experts informed the audience that currently there were some 10 million diabetes patients in the country and the figure was projected to rise approximately to over 14 million by 2040.
The World Diabetes Day is observed at global level since 1991 on November 14. The organisers at the SIUT had advanced the day in order to facilitate the maximum number of people to avail the screening and advisory facilities which was arranged by SIUT. This facility will continue at the Institute in the days to come. The theme for the current year is "Eye on Diabetes" stressing the need for screening and early diagnoses.
In this regard the SIUT has made elaborate arrangement in order to create awareness and educate the population at large by arranging lectures of medical specialists, advisory services for patients beside free screening and testing facilities. During the series of lecture for public speakers pointed out that population in Pakistan is vulnerable mainly because lack of education, ignorance, growing urbanization, and above all indifference on the part of policy and decision makers related to health sector. They also disclosed that un-diagnosed diabetes has now become a global public health issue leading to serious health outcome.