KARACHI, Oct 27: Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in adults in developed countries. It is also the commonest cause of blindness in Pakistan.

This was stated by speakers at a function held to observe the World Diabetes Day in a local hotel on Sunday. The function was organized by the Diabetic Association of Pakistan and the World Health Organizing Collaborating Centre. The theme for this year’s “Your eyes and diabetes: don’t lose sight of the risks”.

Prof Zaman Shaikh, professor of medicine at the Chandka Medical College, said that diabetes remained silent for many years before it was diagnosed. “At least 50 per cent of all people with diabetes are unaware of their condition. In some countries, this figure may rise to 80 per cent.”

He added that in 2000 five countries with the largest number of persons with diabetes had been India (32.7 million), China (22.6 million), the United States (15.3 million), Pakistan (8.8 million) and Japan (7.1 million).

“By 2025 the prevalence of diabetes is expected to triple in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and South- East Asia; double in the Americas and the Western Pacific; and rise by nearly 50 per cent in Europe.”

The secretary-general of the Diabetic Association of Pakistan, Prof Samad A. Shera, highlighted the epidemic of Type 2 diabetes in Pakistan. “In Pakistan Type I diabetes (insulin dependent diabetes) constitutes two per cent of the total diabetic population. Type I diabetes is easy to diagnose with dramatic symptoms of excessive urination, increased thirst and rapid weight loss. The only treatment is with insulin injections and diet control. Sugar lowering drugs have no place in the treatment. All children must have daily insulin blood sugar monitoring. Self glucose monitoring devices have revolutionized the management and control.”

Eye specialise Dr Akhter Jamal spoke about the correlation between diabetes and eye diseases. He said: “Retina problems are mostly due to diabetes. The other problems are cataract, which can be easily operated, and glaucoma, which can be treated by vitrectomy.”

He said once the retina problem had been recognized, two types of treatment had to be undertaken. “One is the general treatment for diabetes and the other is specific treatment for eyes. Laser treatment is mostly resorted to. It does not treat diabetes but it stops complications in blood vessels. A patient may have to undergo laser treatment many times.”

The patron of the Diabetic Association of Pakistan, Illahi Bukhsh Soomro, inaugurated the second session for people with diabetes and their relatives.

At the session it was discussed that people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease and stroke, than people without diabetes.

Furthermore, about 40 per cent of people with Type I diabetes develop severe kidney disease by the age of 40. The devastating complications of diabetes are imposing a huge burden on health care services. It is estimated that diabetes accounts for five per cent and 10 per cent of the country’s health budget.