LAHORE: Professor of medicine at the King Edward Medical University, Dr Irshad Hussain, has called for introduction of vaccine in Pakistan to prevent diabetes since the prevalence of the disease has almost doubled in adults/children.

“Pakistan is facing a potential threat of diabetes outbreak, particularly in adults due to unhealthy lifestyle,” Prof Irshad told Dawn.

While sharing some hard facts on the World Diabetes Day on Monday, he said the vaccine to prevent the disease among children/adults had been introduced in America where it was also available in inhalable form.

“Pakistan lacks consolidated data on the exact number of patients and the burden of the disease in Pakistan. Though we are lacking authentic statistics about the exact prevalence of this disease, some reports estimated that Pakistan has become 7th largest country in terms of diabetes population and it will be 4th largest by the year 2030.”

The country has 7th largest diabetes population: KEMU professor

About the prevention of the disease, Dr Irshad said work was being done worldwide to introduce the cure for the disease through oral drugs. In America, he said, type 1 diabetes vaccine had been introduced for the adults living with this disease. Similarly, Phase III trials had also started for new oral type 2 diabetes drug.

Meanwhile, like other parts of the country, many activities, including seminars, walks and dialogues, were held in the provincial capital to observe the World Diabetes Day.

A seminar followed by an awareness walk at the Mayo Hospital. Heads of all four medical units of the Mayo Hospital, namely Prof Dr Irshad Hussain, Prof Dr Khalid Mahmood Khan, Prof Dr Sajid Ubaidullah and Prof Dr Tariq Waseem, attended the activities besides chief executive Prof Dr Asad Aslam Khan and a number of young medics.

The Lahore General Hospital, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Shahdman, and Shalamar Hospital also organised walks and seminars to observe the day.

The Pakistan Young Pharmacists Association held a workshop on diabetes at a hotel here. A number of research papers were presented in it and the participants included more than 200 pharmacists from across the province.

Addressing on the occasion, Pakistan Drug Lawyers Forum president Dr Noor Muhammad Mahar said awareness was the best remedy to fight diabetes. He said everyone, including healthy persons, should examine the sugar level once a year as a preventive measure.

Pakistan Young Pharmacist Association secretary general Dr Haroon Yousaf and Joint Secretary Dr Hina Shaukat presented their papers on role of exercise in control of sugar and benefits of honey and drugs.

Published in Dawn, November 15th, 2016