KARACHI, April 17: Medical experts from different parts of the world, mainly from Asia, speaking at the first scientific session of the Fifth Diabetes in Asia Conference underscored the need for across the board availability of insulin at affordable rates in the developing world.

The session began with a deliberation made by International Diabetes Federation president Prof Pierre Lefebvre, on "Insulin Therapy-2004: Basic needs or sophistication". He said that insulin was discovered in 1921 and since then it had been purified and improved in quality.

However, insulin was still not available or unaffordable in many developing countries, he said suggesting child sponsorship, intervention by charitable organizations and lowering its price by the industry.

Dr Knut Borch Johnson from Denmark talked on "Early Detection Programmes for Diabetes - Modification by Ethnicity is Essential". He stressed that early detection of diabetes was necessary as more than 50 per cent were registered to be left undiagnosed adding that age obesity and ethnicity are important risk factors. "For prevention screening programmes must be developed and validated," he added.

Prof Martin Silink from Australia spoke on "Evidence-based guidelines for Type-I Diabetes in children and adolescents". According to him, though Type-I Diabetes is uncommon, however, good management of this group desires proper awareness among students, besides public and physicians.

Prof John Turtle from Australia talked about "Insulin Resistance - Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome".

He said that there was a strong link between obesity and insulin resistance which could lead to Type-II Diabetes often causing hypertension and heart diseases. He stressed that the best approach to tackle the situation could be lifestyle intervention through controlled and quality diet coupled with physical exercise.

Prof John Turtle further maintained that therapy should begin with insulin sensitisers like Metformin and Thiazolidinediones which could then be followed by sulphonylureas.

Speaking on "Translating into practice the evidence on primary prevention of Type-II Diabetes", Dr Rhys Williams from the United Kingdom said that this was possible with intervention at personal as well as public levels, which could be acquired through changing public health polices and clinical guidelines.

Dr Lorna Mellor from Australia talked about "Critical issues impacting on diabetes education around the world". She stressed on the education of doctors, nurses and dietitians.

Need for a centre of excellence for diabetes in every country was suggested by Dr D.L. Singh from Nepal.

Giving some data on prevalence of diabetes in Nepal, he said that diabetes was higher in urban areas as compared to the villages. He said that this was mainly high fat-calorie diet and due to lack of exercises.

A session on "Rising trend of diabetes in immigrants from the subcontinent to Europe" was conducted by Prof Jak Jurvell and Prof Jiten Vora. Dr Ingegerd Larsen, Dr Faiza Basharat, Dr B. Claussen and Shaista Ayub spoke at the session. -APP