ISLAMABAD – On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, a joint declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health has sounded a significant alarm regarding a national health crisis: diabetes now affects an alarming 34.5 million people in Pakistan, equating to one in every three adults.
This monumental figure places Pakistan under the grim distinction of shouldering the highest proportional diabetes burden globally, containing over 40% of the total estimated cases across the entire Eastern Mediterranean Region.
The collaborative warning strongly urges all Pakistanis to immediately embrace preventative lifestyle measures and undergo screening for this chronic disease, which spares no age group. This week, the WHO and the Ministry of Health are spearheading special screening drives in medical facilities, underscoring the vital importance of early detection. The urgency is amplified by the fact that four in ten people affected by diabetes in the Region remain undiagnosed, dramatically increasing their risk of catastrophic complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal addressed the governmental response, highlighting that the Ministry of Health, through the Prime Minister’s Diabetes Programme, is actively championing free screening, early detection, and healthier lifestyles. “I urge citizens to assess their personal risk, get tested, and integrate simple but powerful changes like adopting healthy eating habits and engaging in physical activity for a healthier nation,” Minister Kamal said.
Echoing this sentiment, WHO Representative in Pakistan, Dr. Luo Dapeng, characterized diabetes as a “silent killer” and stressed that adopting a healthy lifestyle and regular medical checkups are paramount for self-protection. He reaffirmed that prevention is always the best cure and committed WHO’s support to combating a disease whose consequences can be minimized through timely intervention. The global prevalence of diabetes has skyrocketed from 200 million people in 1990 to an overwhelming 830 million in 2022, with the steepest increase recorded in low- and middle-income countries.
Experts emphasize that Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable. The devastating consequences of all types can be significantly mitigated by maintaining a healthy diet. ensuring consistent physical activity. prioritizing early detection and seeking necessary treatment, completely avoiding tobacco, consciously reducing sugar intake.
