KARACHI, Feb 28: South East Asian Chairman for International Diabetes Federation, Mahan Wijesuriya, has warned against growing prevalence of Diabetes Type-II among youth - representing the major work force of their respective countries.

Speaking at the third and the final day of the international diabetes conference organized by the Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology and the International Diabetes Federation on Tuesday, he said the trend was of immense concern as the potential for complications for 10 to 20 years of onset loomed as formidable thought.

“Why is this happening to our children and young adults?” he asked maintaining that it could be due to an interaction of etiological factors agreed upon in the Asia Diabetes Conference 2002, held in Colombo.

The expert, who is also the president of Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka, enumerated genetics, fetal origins, life style and stress as the factors which needed to be taken into account in a properly conducted primary prevention programme.

“The prevention from diabetes can be ensured through regular games and exercises in schools and at home,” he stressed.

Discussing the sexual dysfunction in diabetes, Prof Andrew Boulton from the UK mentioned that up to 50 per cent of male diabetic patients could experience the problem that was also directly related to poor diabetes control.

The expert maintained that availability of a new drug Sidenafil during the last decade had in many ways revolutionized the management of the diabetes induced dysfunction.

Dr Javed Akram regretted that no guidelines were available for the fasting patients and very often the available professional advice was based on assumptions and personal experiences. “However, in Pakistan a Ramazan study group has now been formed and being represented in more than 30 countries,” he said mentioning that these guidelines will be available to diabetics keen to fast, especially during the holy month of Ramazan.

Dr Oussama M.N. Khatib from Egypt said that diabetes was presently considered one of the most common non-communicable diseases and that there was an increasing evidence that it would become the foremost public health challenges to be faced in Middle East region in the new millennium.—APP