KARACHI, Feb 24: The Diabetes Education Awareness Foundation (DEA) comes into being on Monday when a formal announcement to this effect will be made at a news conference at a local hotel here, according to a press release issued here on Saturday.

A charity cricket match between Pakistani and Indian cricketers at Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium has been organized in connection with the DEA launching, the release said, adding that celebrities will be present to support former skipper Waseem Akram in the launch of the foundation.

There are around 80-100 million diabetes patients in Pakistan and a large number of them are not even aware of the fact that they suffer from this disease. This leads to ailments such as ischemic heart disease, strokes, kidney failures, cataracts and blindness, impotence, lack of sensation in the limbs leading to ulcers and sores.

The DEA under the patronage of Wasim Akram has undertaken to spread awareness of the disease. The foundation will highlight the need to adopt necessary preventive measures and educate the public.