KARACHI, Feb 22: The diabetes mellitus incidence is rising in alarming numbers, particularly in the developing countries, stated Dr Fatema Jawad, Consultant Diabetologist and Senior Research Fellow , Diabetic Association of Pakistan and WHO Collaborating Centre, Karachi.

She was addressing a seminar hosted by the Department of Biochemistry, Jinnah University for Women, on Saturday. Giving an overview on diabetes, Dr Fatema said that there were 194 million people with diabetes in the world.

She said that this figure would escalate to 333 million by the year 2025, if no intervention was made, and 75 per cent of these patients would be belonging to the developing countries.

The Pakistan National Diabetes Survey, conducted by the Diabetic Association of Pakistan (1994-1997), showed 11.9 per cent people above 25 years age to have the Type-2 Diabetes. The recent trend observed was an increase in this type in children which was alarming too, she observed.

Elaborating the disease and its types, she said basically diabetes was of four types. Type-1 or insulin dependent was encountered mostly in children when the insulin producing cells stop functioning, she said, and added that such cases had to take insulin lifelong.

Type-2 or non-insulin dependent diabetes occurred in people above 25 years of age and could very easily be missed as there were no specific symptoms, she said.

She said that Type-3 was the diabetes among women during pregnancy while the Type-4 Diabetes was secondary to other endocrine diseases. Discussing the fast rising figures of Type-2 Diabetes among children, she elaborated that the consumption of fast foods, carbonated sweetened drinks and confectionery were some of the causes.

Besides, she added, no physical exercise due to lack of playgrounds in schools, and sitting in front of television sets and computers had increased the incidence of obesity among children.

The diabetologist mentioned that it was mainly abdominal obesity that caused insulin resistance and finally diabetes. Talking about the management of diabetes, Dr Jawwad said that there were a number of factors, which could balance the blood sugar control. She said that a sugar-free and low-in-fats diet was advisable. - APP