KARACHI, Nov 2: The number of diabetic people is expected to touch 230 million mark in the next 20 years, claims International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The number of diabetic people is increasing at an alarming rate which had swelled from 194 million in 2003 to 230 million across the globe in three years time.

In order to create awareness on diabetes and its associated disorders, preparations for the World Diabetes Day are in full swing in about 250 countries of the world. This year’s theme is “Diabetes in the disadvantaged and the vulnerable.”

The IDF believes that this is applicable to the underdeveloped countries of the world because they are facing an epidemic of disorder. According to the IDF, most of these countries have low literacy rates, poor economies; they are overpopulated, and have strong cultural ties. All these factors lead to more diabetes and even more complications related to the disorder.

Like every year, the Diabetic Association of Pakistan, in collaboration with the WHO Collaborating Centre, Karachi is observing the day on Nov 12. Scientific sessions for doctors will have two deliberations by Prof Nigel Unwin, professor of epidemiology, Newcastle University, UK.

He is scheduled to speak on ‘the challenge of diabetes in poor countries: setting an agenda for action and preventing chronic diseases: a virtual investment’. The former speaker of the National Assembly, Ilahi Buksh Soomro, and the vice-chancellor of the University of Karachi, Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim will be the guests of honour.

The disadvantaged population has been identified as those with a low economic status, low literacy rate, the ethnic minorities, the elderly, children and pregnant women with diabetes.