November 14, 2008	Friday	Ziqa'ad 15, 1429

KARACHI, Nov 13: The World Diabetes Day is being observed in the city on Friday with reports that the number of diabetes patients may rise sharply by 2025.

Various medical universities, health organisations and health care centres have organised walks, seminars and free medical camps to mark the occasion with the objectives of creating awareness and identifying the risk groups.

The day was introduced by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organisation in 1991, and the theme this year is similar to the last year’s — “Diabetes in children and adolescents”.

In 2003, the IDF had estimated diabetics around the world to be at 194 million and new estimates put the number at above 230 million. It is feared that the number may go to up to 380 million by 2025.

The trend is not much different in Pakistan, where 6.2 million people — 8.5 per cent of them adults — are suffering from the disease and the figure is feared to climb up to 14.5 million by 2025.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmad, in his message on the occasion, said it was presumed that in 2020 diabetes would become a global epidemic with every second person suffering from the disease.

He said that the situation could be avoided by creating awareness. He stressed the need for discouraging consumption of high carbohydrates and animal fat in meals and encouraging physical exercise and games. The minister said it was the duty of religious and political leaders as well to come forward and dissuade people from living a stressful life.

“If appropriate measures are not taken, the whole nation may become diabetic with all complications, like blindness, renal failure, high blood pressure and heart attack.

The Aga Khan University Hospital will be holding an awareness programme on November 15 to highlight the causes and different aspects of diabetes, diabetic management and prevention.

The Dow University of Health Sciences will hold a diabetes camp at its Ojha campus on November 16.