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Diabetes kills one person
every 10 seconds throughout the world. In the same 10 seconds, two more people
get diabetes. The number of people with diabetes increases by seven million
each year. Within a generation, the number of people with diabetes will exceed
more than 350 million worldwide, with the epicentre in Asia.
In Pakistan, 12 % of people
are suffering from diabetes and 10% have impaired glucose tolerance. This rising
tide of diabetes will hit hardest in communities least likely to access appropriate
care.
Aga Khan University held
a seminar and health mela to mark the World Diabetes Day in order to increase
awareness of diabetes and related problems among people of Pakistan. Dr Abdul
Jabbar gave an overview of diabetes management, followed by a lecture by Zubeda
Amin on self monitoring of blood glucose. Later, a panel of experts answered
a wide variety of questions by the audience. A large number of people attended
the health mela where free tests related to diabetes and informative material
were offered to the public.
Experts expressed concern
that the institutions specialising in diabetes care are limited in number and
are concentrated in the big cities. There are no support personnel and very
few dietitians. Family physicians have little time for counseling; a survey
of GPs working in both rural and urban areas of Pakistan showed that the average
time spent with a person with diabetes was 8.5 minutes.
During the panel discussion,
experts informed the audience that contrary to the widely held misconception
that diabetes is a disease of the affluent, it is economically disadvantaged
communities that are most vulnerable to diabetes and least equipped to seek
care and prevent the onset of diabetes complications. By 2025, 80% of people
with diabetes will be found in low- and middle-income countries. It is estimated
that poor people with diabetes in some developing countries spend as much as
25% of their annual income on their diabetes care. As a consequence, the economically
disadvantaged are pushed further into poverty and can be faced with a terrible
choice: to pay for treatment and face catastrophic debt, or to neglect their
health and face disability or death.
The impact of diabetes can
be reduced. It is possible that up to 80% of cases of type 2 diabetes could
be delayed or even prevented completely by improving the living environment.
This includes improving opportunities for healthy diet and for increased physical
activity.
Diabetes is emerging fast
as one of the greatest health catastrophes the world has ever seen. The diabetes
epidemic will overwhelm healthcare resources everywhere if governments do not
take action now. The vulnerable and the disadvantaged will suffer most. It is
of vital importance that the right to health of these groups be recognised and
respected.
As a part of its social
responsibility and commitment to the advancement of health research and education,
AKU regularly holds seminars, symposiums and events to raise awareness about
health and education related issues which are of national importance and interest.
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