Dr Shabana Safdar Khan
Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting how the body uses glucose, a type of sugar that provides energy for the cells. Glucose comes from the food we eat and is normally regulated by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. When the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or the body cannot use it properly, glucose builds up in the blood and causes high blood sugar levels. This can lead to serious health problems, such as heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and amputation.
There are different types of diabetes, such as type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in childhood or adolescence and requires daily injections of insulin to survive. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, where the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or does not produce enough of it. Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adulthood and is often associated with obesity, physical inactivity, and genetic factors. Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy, where the hormones produced by the placenta interfere with the action of insulin. Gestational diabetes can affect the health of both the mother and the baby and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Diabetes can be prevented or delayed by adopting and maintaining healthy habits, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco use, and managing stress. People who are at high risk of developing diabetes, such as those with a family history, overweight, or high blood pressure, should get screened regularly and follow the advice of their healthcare providers. Diabetes can be treated with various medications, such as oral drugs, insulin injections, or non-insulin injectables, depending on the type and severity of the condition. People with diabetes also need to monitor their blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol and check their feet, eyes, and kidneys for any complications.
World Diabetes Day is an annual event that aims to raise awareness and understanding of diabetes and its impact on individuals and societies. It was established in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in response to the growing concerns about the health and economic threat posed by diabetes. World Diabetes Day became an official United Nations Day in 2006 with the passage of United Nation Resolution 61/225, which recognized diabetes as a serious and escalating global health problem that requires urgent action. World Diabetes Day is celebrated every year on November 14, the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin along with Charles Best in 1922.
World Diabetes Day has a different theme each year, which reflects the current issues and challenges facing the global diabetes community. The theme for 2021-2023 is Access to Diabetes Care, which focuses on the prevention of type 2 diabetes and its complications by ensuring that everyone has access to affordable and quality diabetes education, medicines, and care. World Diabetes Day also features various activities and events, such as campaigns, screenings, workshops, lectures, walks, runs, and concerts, that are organized by the IDF, its member associations, and other partners around the world.
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World Diabetes Day is especially significant for Pakistan, which is one of the countries with the highest burden of diabetes in the world. According to the IDF, Pakistan ranks third in the world for the number of adults (20-79 years) with diabetes, with a total of 33 million in 2021. Pakistan also has the highest comparative diabetes prevalence rate in the world, with 26.7% of its adult population living with diabetes. Moreover, Pakistan is the country with the highest proportion of deaths under the age of 60 due to diabetes, with 35.5%. The IDF estimates that a further 11 million adults in Pakistan have impaired glucose tolerance, which puts them at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The main factors that are driving the alarming surge of diabetes in Pakistan are poverty, malnutrition, obesity, physical inactivity, genetic predisposition, and lack of awareness and education. Health experts in Pakistan have expressed grave concerns over the situation and have urged the government to take immediate action to combat the problem. They have called for more funds to be allocated to the national health budget, more facilities and services to be provided for diabetes prevention and treatment, more research and development to be conducted on new therapies and technologies, and more campaigns and programs to be launched to educate and empower the public and the health care professionals.
World Diabetes Day provides an opportunity for Pakistan to join the global effort to raise awareness and understanding of diabetes and its impact on individuals and societies. It also provides an opportunity for Pakistan to advocate for more resources and support to help achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) diabetes coverage targets by 2030, which include reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes, improving access to diabetes diagnosis and care, and preventing diabetes-related complications and deaths. World Diabetes Day also provides an opportunity for Pakistan to celebrate the achievements and contributions of its diabetes community, such as the Diabetes Association of Pakistan, which is the IDF member association in the country and the leading organization for diabetes care and education in Pakistan.
Accordingly, Pakistan should also implement the spirit of the day in the health sector in Pakistan. Health has become a devolved subject after the 18th amendment, and it is critical for the provincial health departments to build their capacity and provide awareness, medication, and all other essential services to the patients. The rising number of Diabetic patients in Pakistan poses a threat to the health of the nation, and therefore, it should be taken as an emergency to tackle the health hazard.
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