KARACHI, Oct 25: The Pakistan Diabetic Association and the WHO Collaboration Centre, Karachi, have chalked out an elaborate programme to observe the World Diabetes Day on Nov 14, says a press release issued on Thursday.

A scientific session for doctors will be held in the forenoon where experts from the UK will make their presentations.

Some of the speakers would be Dr Jim Newmark who will present his paper on “Sharing of a local experience in providing diabetes care to the Asian population,” Dr Paul Sheldon will speak on “Educating the General Practitioners,” and Dr Rahman Khan will discuss “Management of Type-2 Diabetes and Insulin Therapy.”

Discussion between the participating doctors and speakers would be followed by these presentations.

An open session for the public will be held the same afternoon. A panel of experts comprising Dr M. Mukhtar, Dr Abdul Basit, Dr Zaman Shaikh, Dr Samad Shera and Dr Fatima Jawad will answer questions from programme participants.

The World Diabetes Day would be an occasion reminding all and sundry of the surge in the incidence of diabetes across the globe, and together with the prevention of the disease the prevention of the complications it can cause.

November 14 would also be a day to pay tributes to the discoverers, including Sir Frederick Banting, a co-discoverer of insulin, the drug giving a gift of life to diabetics.

The theme for this year’s Diabetes Day is “Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease: Time to Act.” This is in the backdrop of the fact that people with diabetes are two to four times more prone to develop cardiovascular diseases than people without diabetes.

There are at present more than 10 million people with diabetes worldwide. The figure is projected to rise to 300 million by 2025, largely due to unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle.

Hyperglycemia or increased blood sugar levels have been classed as an independent factor for coronary heart diseases. Even a moderately increased blood sugar level causes a considerable increase in the risk of cardiovascular diseases among people with both Type 1 and 2 diabetes.

The endothelial lining of the blood vessels have been identified to undergo changes and this, along with mechanical stiffening, causes interference with blood flow and an increased tendency to atherosclerotic deposits. This ultimately heightens the danger of myocardial infarcts and strokes.

It has also been established through many studies that a reduction in the modifiable risk factors can provide a good quality of life to the diabetics. This can be achieved by healthy eating habits, regular physical exercise, cessation of smoking and maintaining a normal body weight. This is also the best means of preventing cardiovascular diseases. It is now time to act which is possible by increasing awareness among people with diabetes, their families, friends and the health professionals.—APP