Healthy lifestyle key to effectively managing diabetes: Experts

KARACHI- Zia Uddin University joins the national and international efforts to raise awareness of diabetes by promoting healthy lifestyles and effective management of diabetes.

University’s Faculty of Health Sciences (Research Department) organized a symposium on “Healthy Living and Diabetes Awareness” in connection with World Diabetes Day. The symposium focused on promoting healthy lifestyles and effectively managing diabetes. According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF), one in two people with diabetes do not know they have it.

Prof. Dr Samad Shera, the IDF President and Secretary General Diabetes Association of Pakistan highlighted the risk factors that contribute to diabetes. “If overweight, over 40 years with diabetes in your family or belonging to South Asian origin you can be at diabetes risk”. Said Dr. Shera. “Having two or more factors means you should get your blood sugar tested rightaway,” he added.

Dr Shera discussed at length the different types of diabetes, their treatment, management, timing and procedure of taking insulin and how to store it with and without refrigerators. “We are going upside down in diabetes management. Controlling diabetes is not only about restricting your sugar level, it’s about comprehensive management of BP, physical exercise, insulin, dialysis and sulfonylurea”.

He particularly emphasized on healthy diet and exercise to improve insulin sensitivity and increase HDL cholesterol. Speaking of a formula for healthy balanced diet, he said “normal diet minus sugar.

University’s Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Pirzada Qasim applauded Prof. Dr. Samad Shera for his enlightening speech with stressed on lifestyle modification for healthy living. Reminding students of their roles in raising awareness he said “You have the responsibility to create awareness among your family, friends and neighbors and help them manage their diabetes.”

ZU’s Dean, Post0-Graduate Clinicals, Dr Ejaz Vohra also explained the correlation between diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. “Diabetes plus hypertension is a mortal combination. About 60 percent diabetic patients tend to develop hypertension while 18 percent patients with hypertension develop diabetes later,” he said.

Dr Mahvesh said approximately 44 percent dialysis patients in developed world are diabetic, while 80pc people with diabetes live in developing countries. Diabetes mellitus, a chronic metabolic disorder has assumed an epidemic form with 400 million people suffering from it the world over and this figure is steadily rising, estimated to reach 592 million by 2035.

It is also speculated that 80 percent of these people will be belonging to the developing countries, Pakistan included.

World Diabetes Day at SIUT:

Consultant Diabetologist Dr Fatema Jawad, moderated the event organized by Sindh Institute of Urology & Transplantation Pakistan. The International Diabetes Federation declares 14th November as a day to create awareness amongst all people, to take steps to prevent diabetes and its complications. Besides, this day pays tributes to Sir Frederick Banting born on 14th November, is the discoverer of Insulin.

SIUT, by way of its policy is providing free quality services to the masses and also educating the public on various diseases and disorders and their prevention. World Diabetes Day is one of the awareness programs of SIUT.

The people who had come in large numbers received a free screening of blood glucose test along with their vitals such as Blood Pressure, Weight and Estimation of obesity. They were provided expert advice and also given instructions on making their health better. Dieticians, Doctors, Nurses and Educators were present to answer all their queries.

This was followed by an interactive panel session between the audience comprising of men, women and children from all walks of life and doctors from different specialties as diabetologists, cardiologist, pediatrician, nephrologist, urologist and eye specialist. Questions on all aspects of diabetes were put up which were answered by the experts.

The panelists from SIUT included Dr Zafar Hussain Urologist, Dr Fazal Akhtar Adult Nephrologist, Dr Fatema Jawad Diabetologist, Dr Ali Asghar Lanewalla Pediatric Nephrologist, Dr Abida Parveen Gastro-Hepato Biliary Surgeon, Dr Abbas Ali Tasneem Gastroenterologist, Dr Fatima Ali Ophthalmologist, Dr Shoaib Sultan Cardiologist and Kehkashan Zehra Dietitian.   

SIUT provides services for people with diabetes who are either transplanted or have renal failure besides others going in for various types of surgeries. Creating awareness and knowledge on a better control of diabetes will protect the people from complications. Awareness in people belonging to a high risk group can prevent the manifestation of Diabetes. The message of the day was to “Act Today to Change tomorrow”.