Most modern facilities for the treatment of diabetes will be available at new state of the art National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (Nide), which is the first of its kind in Pakistan. Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Vice Chancellor Professor Masood Hameed Khan said this while inaugurating the new building of the Institute at Dow University Ojha campus.
The VC said: "We have laid the foundation of Nide with an aim to not only control alarming rate of diabetic patients but also to provide excellent medical facilities to treat the disease".
Nide, he said, was purely dedicated to diabetes prevention, treatment, training and research covering all aspects of diabetes and its complications. Professor Masood said Pakistan was eighth in the list among world nations with diabetes population of 4.3 million in the year 2000, which would increase to 14.5 million diabetic patients by 2025 putting Pakistan fourth in the list.
He added that almost 20.5 percent women and 15.9 percent men were suffering from diabetes mellitus and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Pakistan. There is a significant increase in the prevalence of diabetes and endocrine patients in Pakistan, and Nide is the institute to provide free treatment to these patients at international standards.
He said that diabetes was registered in almost all age groups of people in the country, while endocrinological diseases were often thought of in a general way as being rare and of only peripheral interest. But actually endocrinological conditions affected all age groups and vary greatly in their prevalence from diabetes mellitus and thyroid diseases to rare condition such as testicular feminisation syndrome.
He revealed that diabetes and endocrinological diseases were leaving a serious impact on the lives of the people. In Pakistan the prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus was very high. It is around 10 percent in adult population.
Death from heart diseases in women with diabetes has increased 23 percent over the past 30 years compared to a 27 percent decrease in women without diabetes. People with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to suffer from stroke.
Diabetes is leading cause of end stage renal failure accounting to about 43 percent of new cases. It is also a leading cause of new cases of blindness in people aged 20-74 years. The risk of leg amputation is 15-40 times greater for person with diabetes.
He said that in people with diabetes, cardiovascular complications occurred at an earlier age and often resulted in pre-mature death. On the other hand majority of endocrine disorders, though very common are often diagnosed late because of non-specific and slow onset clinical features. Moreover, laboratory investigations are either inaccessible or of complex nature.
He said, "we are trying to create awareness among masses about the diseases and free medical facilities available at Nide and media should play its role and contribute positively to the cause."
Talking about the facilities at the Centre, Nide (Ojha Campus) Director Professor Zaman Shiekh said a day care centre with computerised record keeping, with trained diabetic educator nurse, dietician and chiropodist a diabetic foot clinic, gestational diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and a men's health clinic were established. A state of the art diabetic eye care centre where all the latest treatment including laser therapy is also available with the collaboration of Dowites' 80 batch.
All the hormones disease like thyroid diseases, short/tall stature, brittle bones (osteoporasis)/ calcium disorders, male and female infertility, etc were being treated at the centre. Postgraduate diploma in diabetes and endocrinology has already been started while in next phase, indoor facility will also be provided. A quality assured laboratory is established to conduct basal and dynamic sophisticated hormone test.
At Nide, there will be screening for relatives and individuals at risk. Professor Zaman Shiekh said that NIDE would provide a sound background for physicians training in diabetes, endocrinology and related disciplines and would serve as a major contributor to the training requirements for this specialty. He added that medical professionals after completing their MSc diploma in Endocrinology and Diabetes under the guidance of renowned local and international endocrinologists would bring new clinical advancements in the field.-PR
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