KARACHI, Jan 8: Educating people regarding balanced diet at school-level, besides creating awareness about preventive measures, are key to control diabetes in the country, and local print and electronic media can play an important role in this regard.

Sedentary lifestyle, excessive intake of calories, use of fast food, refined flour and fats, besides lack of regular exercise or physical activity, are major causes of rising type-II diabetes in the country.

These views were expressed by health experts, physicians and Unani medicine practitioners at a seminar on "Controlling and preventing Diabetes," organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation at its Vickey Zeitlin Media Library on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Mashoor Alam Shah, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre's Diabetes ward in charge, said by taking daily exercise and a controlled and balanced diet, diabetes could be prevented or controlled.

Objecting to the theory that sedentary lifestyle was among the major reasons for diabetes, he said majority of diabetics brought to public hospitals in Karachi, hailed from middle and lower-middle classes, who could not afford sitting idle or having calorie-rich meals.

"Use of refined atta, excessive use of edible oil and ghee, refined sugar with tea, smoking and avoiding regular excise, are major causes of diabetes locally," he said, adding that 30-minute daily exercise and balanced diet could help prevent diabetes.

Warning against diabetes' complications, he said it was the mother of all diseases. "In case of complications, diabetic patients need more attention, money and remain victim of one or other serious diseases for the rest of their lives," he informed and urged media to play its role in creating awareness among masses.

"Awareness is key to prevent and control diabetes in Pakistan. What else we need is a national strategy involving federal and provincial governments, health institutions, media and other stake-holders, to fight it," he said, urging provision of health education at school level.

Dr Vakil Hussain, who is medical officer at the Diabetic Association of Pakistan, on the occasion said that diabetes was ranked as fourth main cause of death, both in developing as well as in developed countries around the globe.

Giving a detailed presentation regarding types of diabetes, he supported the theory that sedentary lifestyle, obesity and unhealthy diet were major causes of diabetes and said people should take exercise in addition to balanced diet for preventing diabetes.

Eastern and herbal medicine experts at the Hamdard University, including Tabiba Halima Nazar, in their presentation said people should avoid carbohydrates-rich food with sugar, and instead, enhance use of local vegetables and spices.

Garlic, onion, cabbage, pea and Kalongi contain anti-diabetic agents, while Jaman and Binola seeds, falsa and juice of Karela is effective in type-II diabetes, they said, adding that American, British and German scientists had also found effectiveness of these herbs and vegetables in controlling and preventing diabetes.

According to them, tender shoots of Neem tree, bel leaves, garlic, onion, Kalongi, white shehtoot, Rowan Berry, carrot, Hops, tomato, pea, European grape, sugarless tea and common licorice also contain anti-diabetic agents as per research of European scientists.

While orange, fennel, soybean, Alfalfa, American Genseng, grapefruit and barley also help prevent and control diabetes.-PPI