LOWER DIR: Health experts have warned of an alarming increase in diabetes cases in Pakistan, urging people to adopt healthier lifestyles and undergo regular medical screening to prevent potentially life-threatening complications.
The District Headquarters Hospital, Timergara, in collaboration with the Pakistan Endocrine Society and a pharmaceutical company, organised an awareness walk on Saturday to mark the World Diabetes Day.
Health professionals, paramedics and nurses participated in the walk. They were carrying banners and placards highlighting the dangers of the disease and the importance of its prevention.
Later, speaking at a news conference at Timergara Press Club, medical specialists Dr Rab Nawaz, Dr Navid, Dr Farmanullah and Dr Asadullah said that around 34.5 million adults in Pakistan were living with diabetes, making the country one of the most severely affected in the world.
Citing diabetes estimates, the doctors said nearly onethird of adults in Pakistan suffered from the disease, while millions remained undiagnosed and unaware of their condition. They stressed that the growing number of cases had emerged as a major public health challenge requiring urgent attention.
Dr Rab Nawaz said delayed diagnosis was particularly concerning, as many patients developed serious complications before discovering that they had diabetes.
He said that around 27pc of diabetes cases remained undiagnosed, depriving patients of timely treatment and preventive care.
The doctors warned that uncontrolled blood sugar could damage vital organs and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, blindness, nerve damage and lower-limb amputations.They said diabetes was also a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
They explained that diabetes occurred when the body could not produce sufficient insulin or effectively use the insulin it produced, resulting in abnormally high blood glucose levels.
Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, was often associated with obesity, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, they adde d.
The specialists advised people to maintain a healthy body weight, exercise regularly, take balanced diets, avoid excessive consumption of sugary foods and undergo periodic blood sugar and blood pressure checks.
They emphasised that early diagnosis, proper medication and regular medical follow-ups could help patients control the disease and prevent complications.
The doctors urged people experiencing excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, fatigue or blurred vision to seek medical advice, warning that diabetes could remain undetected for years without obvious symptoms.