RAWALPINDI, Dec 9: There are about five million diabetics in Pakistan and the figure is likely to double by 2020, said diabetic experts at a seminar here Sunday.

The seminar was organized by a pharmaceutical firm to launch an association ‘Amryl Club’ for raising public awareness about diabetes.

Speaking at the seminar, Prof Hanif a diabetes specialist at Army Medical College, said a World Health Organization (WHO) survey conducted five years ago revealed there were about three million diabetics.

The figure has now increased to about five million and is likely to cross the figure of 10 million by 2020, according to a another survey carried out recently. The rapid increase is due to lack of awareness, he said.

Renowned cricketer, Waseem Akram, who was the chief guest on the occasion, vowed to lead the campaign against diabetes.

He rejected the notion that diabetes had a negative effect not only the body of a patienet but also on his mind.

The former cricket captain said the disease was curable by changing lifestyle, exercises and getting proper medicine.

He narrated his own story when he was hit by the disease about five years back and he was able to control it through exercises and treatment.

“I was diagnosed in 1997 for diabetes and found my sugar level very high. My friends scared me and told me that I will not be able to play cricket anymore. I proved them wrong. I put myself on diet, brought modifications in my life and started medicines. And I am healthy today,” he said.

Mr Akram stressed on change in lifestyle and regular exercises to control diabetes. He regretted that instead of motivating and educating patients of diabetes, people scared and discouraged them.

Giving an overview of diabetic situation in the world, Dr Jamal Zafar of the PIMS said diabetes should be treated in the early stages because delayed treatment can result in complications which are difficult to cure.

According to him, there were about 135 million registered diabetes patients in 1995, which rose to 160 million in 2000 and is likely to reach 300 million in 2025.

Pakistan is fourth on the list of most diabetes cases.