By Musarrat Arif
KARACHI: The alarming rise of diabetes globally and specifically within Pakistan was the focus of an awareness seminar held at the Karachi University Medical Centre, in collaboration with Discovering Diabetes, ahead of World Diabetes Day 2024. Renowned diabetes expert Dr. Zahid Mian presented sobering statistics, revealing that over 540 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, a figure projected to reach 643 million by 2030.
In low- and middle-income countries, four out of five individuals diagnosed with diabetes face dire consequences, with one person dying every six seconds due to the disease. In Pakistan, the situation is equally critical, with an estimated 33 million individuals living with diabetes. Experts fear the actual number could be significantly higher. Complications arising from diabetes are pervasive, with around three million Pakistanis suffering from foot ulcers, between 16 to 20 percent facing eye issues, and 28 percent experiencing kidney failure, often requiring dialysis.
Dr. Mian highlighted the economic burden of this condition, noting that a single dialysis session costs around 5,000 rupees, culminating in a monthly expense of approximately 60,000 rupees. The seminar served as a platform for various experts to address the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures. Karachi University Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi emphasized the necessity of adhering to prescribed medications rather than relying on self-medication.
The VC warned that if the current trend continues without serious lifestyle changes and preventive actions, Pakistan could emerge as the country with the highest diabetes prevalence globally. Dr. Iraqi underscored the vital role educational institutions play in disseminating knowledge about diabetes prevention and management. The discussion also touched on the societal misconceptions surrounding diabetes.
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Dr. Shaista Tabassum, pointed out that many individuals remain oblivious to their condition due to unhealthy lifestyles, which exacerbate health issues. She lamented the reliance on home remedies rather than prescribed treatments and called for increased awareness to combat diabetes.
