Around 40% beds at PIMS Medicine Department occupied by diabetics
Islamabad
The diabetes prevalence rate among population in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi is continuously on the rise and it is alarming that nearly 40 per cent of beds at the medicine department in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences are occupied by diabetics having complications of the disease.
Data collected by ‘The News’ has revealed that well over 5,000 patients are registered as diabetics with Medicine Department at PIMS while every year 20 per cent increase in number of patients is being recorded in last few years. On average, some 900 patients suffering from foot complications due to diabetes report to diabetic foot clinic at the hospital monthly.
Foot complications of diabetes are treated by medical and surgical departments of PIMS, said Deputy Director at PIMS Dr. Waseen Ahmed Khawaja while talking to ‘The News’ in connection with World Health Day observed on April 7 around the globe with the theme ‘Beat Diabetes’.
He said that 40 per cent of medicine department’s beds are occupied by diabetic patients suffering from various complications of diabetes including renal failure, weight loss and cardiac complications due to vessels damage.
He added that according to Head of Surgical Department at PIMS Professor Tanveer Khaliq, nearly 10 per cent of OPD patients coming to surgical department are with diabetic surgical complications like gangrene, skin wounds and for amputation of feet and arms due to uncontrolled diabetes. He said five per cent of patients planning for various surgeries are newly diagnosed diabetic patients, said Dr. Khawaja.
Consultant medical specialist and Head of Medicine Department at PIMS Professor Dr. Jamal Zafar when contacted by ‘The News’ on Saturday said the prevalence rate of diabetes among local population is very much alarming and it can be termed as the biggest health threat due to its fatal complications like renal failure.
He said diabetes if not managed properly causes irreversible losses including sight loss, infections and amputations. It damages almost all functions of the body and its high prevalence rate is putting a huge burden on the health structure of the country, he said.
He added that he along with his team conducted a survey in the congested areas of Rawalpindi recently and found that 33 per cent of population ranging between 18 and 60 years of age were suffering from diabetes in the heart of Rawalpindi city where majority of people has habit of over eating or eating junk food and consume fizzy drinks as addiction.
Nothing can be much alarming than the figure we received through the survey and I think that the situation needs much attention if we want to safeguard our generation from the deadly threat, said Professor Jamal.
It is important that nearly 200 children are registered with children hospital of PIMS as diabetics and all are on insulin.
Professor Jamal said that a good number of amputations every year are prevented by diabetic foot clinic treatment. He said healthy life style is needed to be adopted and media should guide population about diets of healthy nature to minimize losses, the diabetes is causing.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas is no longer able to make insulin, or when the body cannot make good use of the insulin it produces. Not being able to produce insulin or use it effectively leads to raised glucose levels in the blood known as hyperglycemia. Over the long-term high glucose levels are associated with damage to the body and failure of various organs and tissues such as blindness, heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, nerve damage, ulceration, infection and amputation of the toes, feet and lower legs.
Professor Jamal said to minimize losses being caused by diabetes, there needs a proper policy on treatment facilities and mass awareness among public. There should be diabetic clinic in at least every union council and diabetic should be given treatment facilities at grass roots level. With better control, complications of the disease can be avoided, he said.
He added that there is a need to launch special awareness campaigns and individuals should be convinced to follow good dietary habits. The sale of fizzy drinks is increased more than 200 per cent in last few years and the same is the case with junk foods. If we want to minimize the losses being caused by diabetes, we have to break the habit of consuming fizzy drinks and junk foods, he said.
The health planners should work for establishing play grounds in every Mohallah and the government authorities should work religiously for promoting healthy physical activities among population as it would not only reduce losses due to diabetes but also would give birth to a healthy future generation with constructive minds, concluded Professor Jamal.