KU, PIMA jointly hold symposium on diabetes

KARACHI: Experts highlighted the causes of diabetes and advised people to opt for a simple lifestyle to remain healthy at a symposium jointly organised by the University of Karachi and Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), in collaboration with Discovering Diabetes.

Addressing the symposium, PIMA Karachi president and councilor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons Prof Dr Abdullah Muttaqi pointed out that lack of awareness is one of the main reasons for the rising incidence of diabetes.

He regretted that people either do not identify the disease or take it lightly.

He said PIMA is planning an integrated public awareness campaign through electronic and social media to warn the people of alarming consequences of diabetes.

Prof Qaiser Jamal, the Head of Department at Medicine and Allied, KM&DC Karachi, said Pakistan ranks third in the world in terms of the number of diabetic patients and first in the proportion of diabetics.

He deplored that in Pakistan, three and a half million people are suffering from diabetes, while more than one million others are on the verge of developing the disease, while as many are still undiagnosed.

Consultant endocrinologist at Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology Dr Zahid Mian said the number of people who were left disabled due to diabetes has increased at an alarming rate.

He warned that diabetes also causes paralysis or the patients have to lose their legs because of it.

Dr Mian suggested opening of free diabetes treatment and foot care clinics in public as well as private sector.

Addressing the event, KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said a majority of people know that diabetes is caused by mental stress, junk food, and lack of physical exercise and can be cured

only by adopting a simple lifestyle, but they do not act accordingly.

He warned not eating on time and lack of sleep also causes diabetes, adding that one should avoid fast food and a mechanical lifestyle to remain healthy.