MKRMS seminar: Balanced diet, healthy lifestyle stressed to control diabetes

LAHORE: Diabetics need to change their way of living. People should take a balanced diet to live a healthy life and should do exercise daily. Patients can control their disease by acting upon doctors’ prescription. Diabetes is a silent disease.
These views were expressed by the ‘king of swing’ Wasim Akram in a seminar on diabetes in Zafar Hayat Auditorium of Nishtar Medical University organised by Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Society (MKRMS) (Jang Group of Newspapers) and Roche Pakistan. Wasim Akram said he is a diabetic but he is living a healthy life by adopting healthy lifestyle. He said in old days there was lack of awareness among people about the disease, but now awareness and research process has advanced a lot.
Diabetes is a disease. The more you know about the ailment, the more you can save from it. Pakistan is the 8th largest country regarding obesity. People think that a diabetic patient feels tired very quickly. This happens because people do not pay attention to their food and habits, he added.
Dr Zafar Hussain Tanveer, Vice Chancellor Nishtar Medical University, said: “Our national hero Wasim Akram has defeated this disease by taking precautionary measures that has become the best example in the world and he also has given awareness to people that will prove good for controlling this disease. Nishtar Medical College/University is modern, graceful and big institution where diabetics get treated in a better and appropriate way.”
The vice chancellor also asked Wasim Akram to make a cricket pitch for students of Nishtar Medical College. Dr Salma Tanveer, Head of Diabetes Research Programme, Nishtar Medical College, said diabetes is getting worse in all over the world.
“We can control it by taking precautionary measures but cannot eliminate it from the roots. If diabetic patients take care of their health and take proper medicines as well as balanced diet, they can also live a healthy life and can perform their duties happily. Many famous people are suffering from this disease but by taking precautions they are very active in their fields,” Dr Salma Tanveer said.
World Diabetes Day is observed on November 14 every year. In 2005, an outdoor clinic was established in Nishtar, the biggest hospital of southern Punjab for the diabetics’ treatment. In which fifteen thousand patients for treatment are registered.
These patients are given medicines and insulin free of cost. A plant for shoes making is established for diabetics in Nishtar by Diabetes foundation. In Pakistan there is 5 per cent ratio of type one patients from which children are suffering whereas 95 percent ratio of type two patients. People who avoid taking fats, fast food, non-standard food and soft drinks, those can prevent from this disease, she added.
Sohail Malik, Country Head ROCHE, said: “Empowering women with diabetes” is the theme of this year. A woman trains her family. A child’s first educational institution is his mother. Therefore, women should stay healthy and aware. Wasim Akram is working with us for the last 20 years for creating awareness of the disease. We are getting them to be aware of their existence in the country. They should know that they are the future of our country. They should take care of themselves and their beloved ones. They should change their standards of living so that they can defeat this disease.”
Dr Ijaz Masood said diabetes is more dangerous than cancer. Diabetes and blood pressure are silent diseases and eating people slowly, he added.
Wasif Nagi, Chairman Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Society, said: “ROCHE Pakistan is playing an important role in spreading awareness of diabetes and this awareness walk is also chained with it. If diabetes is not treated in time, it can affect other body parts. We have given up the habit of doing exercise and taking healthy food. We should do exercise daily, avoid smoking and quit depression. If we get aware of this disease, we can spread awareness among others.”