Every year in Pakistan, twelve thousand diabetics suffer the problem of Retinopathy, while more than a hundred patients have to get their foot cut off due to the disease and its related complications. Early diagnosis can prevent the long term complication of diabetes, said leading Diabetelogists at the 3-days Second International Conference on Diabetes held recently at a Dow Medical College, Karachi.
The Second International Conference on Diabetes 2011 was organized by Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) in collaboration with the Diabetic Association of Pakistan (DAP). The Conference aimed to showcase a blend of academic research, seminar, hands-on- training and free papers as well as a poster session. Leading Physicians and Diabetologists from Pakistan and abroad attended the Conference. The Conference was focused on academic research, seminar, hand-on- training and free papers and poster session. A public awareness program for diabetes patients and their relatives was also held in which Prof. Dr. Masood Hameed Khan, Prof. Dr. Samad A. Shera, Dr. Zaman Shaikh and Dr. Suzenana enlightened the participants about recent development in the field of diabetology. They also share preventive measures to reduce the risk of diabetes and also informed the participants about proper use of Insulin.
The inaugural ceremony of the conference was held at a local hotel in Karachi in which International Diabetes Federation President-Elect Sir Michael Hirst was the Chief Guest.
Sir Michael Hirst, sharing his views on the occasion, said that more than 300 million people have diabetes; representing 6% of the world’s adult population, with numbers increasing fast globally. An additional seven million people develop the disease each year. By 2025, IDF estimates that 380 million people will have diabetes, with the greatest burden falling on low and middle-income countries. It is causing premature deaths in both children and adults, as well as causing devastating complications including amputations, kidney and heart disease. The cost of diabetes is challenging health systems even in the wealthiest countries. International Diabetes Federation has been effective in raising awareness of and providing the evidence on diabetes.
In December 2006, the world’s governments unanimously passed a United Nations Resolution on diabetes, recognising that the disease is chronic, debilitating and costly disease and agreed to act on diabetes prevention, treatment and care. That Resolution was spearheaded by the International Diabetes Federation and is the mandate for the federation’s Strategic Plan 2010-2012 and beyond.
Prof. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor-DUHS and Chairman of the Conference in his address said that in Pakistan, we have the burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. Diabetes, being the most widespread metabolic disorder has remained the focus of innumerable researches, investigations and studies across the world. Proper control of diabetes could prevent or delay the long-term complications.
Healthcare providers could play a significant role in preventing the disease from making a patient’s life miserable. He stressed on the need for concerted and coordinated efforts towards preventing diabetes and minimising the consequences of the disease at patient, community and government levels.
Prof. A Samad Shera, Director Diabetes Association of Pakistan (DAP) and patron of the conference gave a brief introduction. He further said that in Pakistan 10% of the younger population has Diabetes with a large increase over the next few years. Female diabetes cases are often reported. Comparison shows that, female are more affected by diabetes then men with a ratio of 51% of female and 49% of male. They further revealed that due to its complications, the diabetes death ratio is more in females.
Studies revealed that 53,000 female whereas 26000 males die every year due to diabetes and its related complications. The complication of diabetes includes kidney failure, heart problem and eye sight problem
Prof. Zaman Shaikh, Director-National Institute of Diabetes & Endocrinology and secretary general of the conference, sharing his views on the occasion, said that that in Pakistan every year about twelve thousand diabetes patients cause Retinopathy. More than a hundred of patients have to do foot surgery due to diabetes. In Pakistan, the situation is alarming and with a current diabetic population of 7.1 million, we rank 7th in the world in terms of having number of people with diabetes. With an estimated prevalence of 7.6% at present, it is estimated that by 2030, we will have 4th largest diabetic population in the world.
The Inaugural Ceremony was concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Abu Talib. Later, Prof. Masood Hameed Khan along with Prof. A. Samad Shera and Prof. Zaman Shaikh presented traditional ajrak and topi along with DUHS memento to foreign delegates.