Diabetes prevalence reaches 26pc in Pakistan

Islamabad: Much against the predictions and expectations of the health fraternity and policy makers, more than 26 percent of Pakistan’s population, which translates into 35 to 38 million people above the age of 20 years, is suffering from type 2 diabetes, reveals the National Diabetes Survey (NDS) 2016-2017, which was unveiled at a conference here on Friday.

According to older estimates, the number of persons with type 2 diabetes was around 7 to 8 percent and experts were expects it to touch 15-20 percent by 2040, but shockingly the number of diabetics has already crossed the figure of 26 percent, which is quite alarming for the entire nation,” said Prof. Abdul Basit, director of Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE), while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Nadep Foot Conference 2017 here Friday.

THE NDS is the first of its kind survey conducted in Pakistan or elsewhere in low-income countries of the world during the last five years. It was conducted in the rural and urbal areas of all four provinces and Islamabad by 17 teams of skilled researchers. As many as 10,834 persons were tested for type 2 diabetes as per WHO guidelines, leading to the detection of 7.14 percent new cases of diabetes. The survey further revealed that around 14.47 percent Pakistanis are at risk of having diabetes sooner of later in their lives. Recommending major health policy changes in Pakistan based on the results of NDS, Prof. Basit called for early prevention programmes at school levels to tackle the threat of diabetes. He said all stakeholders including policy makers, academia, health sector and media should join hands to prevent the likely catastrophe due to diabetes.

In addition to diabetes, subjects were also tested for hypertension, cholesterol, obesity, and other related factors, and researchers hoped that the survey would also reveal the number of people with hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity in Pakistan. The sub-analysis of further details of NDS will be released within the next six months as data analyses still continues.

Eminent diabetologist Dr. Samad Shera said, NDS will prove to be a great help in creating awareness about diabetes and in opening the eyes of policy makers so that they can devise realistic policies to combat the menace.

Director General Health Dr. Assad Hafeez lauded the BIDe team for carrying out the survey. Chairperson of Pakistan Health Research Council (PHRC) Dr. Huma Qureshi shared that PHRC also supported the surveyors in conducting Hba1c and lipid profile of persons. She paid tributes to the surveyors for performing a great job.

The health conference will continue till Sunday. Experts from Australia, Europe and all of Pakistan will discuss issues related to diabetes, especially diabetic foot, due to which thousands of amputations are annually held in Pakistan.