Web Desk (November 14, 2018): Like other part of the globe, World Diabetes Day is being observed in Pakistan on Wednesday to create awareness about the disease and its prevention and treatment aspects in public.
The theme for World Diabetes Day 2018 is The Family and Diabetes.
Various activities have been planned to raise awareness of the impact that diabetes has on the family and support network of those affected.
Click Play Button To Watch This Video
These activities will help promoting the role of the family in the management, care, prevention and education of diabetes, Dr Wasim Khawaja, a public health expert at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said.
Sharing the global figure, he said over 425 million people are currently living with diabetes.
Most of these cases are type 2 diabetes, which is largely preventable through regular physical activity, a healthy and balanced diet, and the promotion of healthy living environments.
He said that families have a key role to play in addressing the modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes and must be provided with the education, resources and environments to live a healthy lifestyle.
Dr Khawaja said one in two people currently living with diabetes is undiagnosed. Most cases are type 2 diabetes.
He said that early diagnosis and treatment are key to prevent the complications of diabetes and achieve healthy outcomes.
He said that all families are potentially affected by diabetes and so awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors for all types of diabetes are vital to help detect it early.
He said that diabetes can be expensive for the individual and family. In many countries, the cost of insulin injection and daily monitoring alone can consume half of a family’s average disposable income, and regular and affordable access to essential diabetes medicines are out of reach for too many.
Improving access to affordable diabetes medicines and care is therefore urgent to avoid increased costs for the individual and family, which impact on health outcomes, Medical expert at Federal Government Poly Clinic (FGPC) Dr Sharif Astori said.
He added family support in diabetes care has been shown to have a substantial effect in improving health outcomes for people with diabetes.
It is therefore important that ongoing diabetes self-management education and support be accessible to all people with diabetes and their families to reduce the emotional impact of the disease that can result in a negative quality of life, he added.
Related News:
