Hundreds of people participated in a Diabetes Awareness Walk organised by Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE) on Sunday at Boat Basin, Clifton here. More than 2000 people of all ages and from all walks of life, including leading physicians, doctors joined the event, said a statement issued by BIDE.
It was organised to create awareness among people regarding diabetes, its prevention and management and to stress the importance and need of regular physical activity and exercise. The walk was inaugurated by Chancellor of Baqai Medical University Professor F U Baqai and Honorary President International Diabetes Federation Professor Abdul Samad Shera, who is also the Secretary General Pakistan Diabetes Association.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor Abdul Samad Shera expressed concern that the rising incidence of diabetes has created an alarming situation world-wide.
Pakistan is one of the countries having the highest number of diabetics and facing an epidemic of diabetes.
He said rapid urbanisation, sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy dietary trends prevailing in our society are the main culprits for the increasing incidence of diabetes and obesity. He noted that according to World Health Organisation (WHO) there are presently more than seven million Diabetics in Pakistan and this number will increase to 16 million by 2025.
He said another six million or more are suffering from Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT) which means they are at high risk of developing diabetes, adding, this ranks country 8th in the world as far as the number of the diabetics is concerned. According to WHO estimation, Pakistan will be placed 4th in this regard, by the year 2025.
These figures make diabetes an epidemic and call for an immediate action, he added. In his concluding address Professor F U Baqai advised the people that change in the life style from sedentary to more active with regular physical exercise and taking a balanced diet containing more of fruits, vegetables and fibre rather than the high calorie fatty and sugary diet, can prevent diabetes in a large proportion of people.
Walking half an hour daily is the secret of a healthy life, Professor Baqai stressed. "Eat less and walk more" is the message of the day, he said.
He said not only adults but children are now becoming obese and suffering from diabetes and other related ailments at a very young age, as a consequence of eating plenty of junk food and entailing to video and computer games rather than active sports.
He called upon the government, school authorities and parents to their responsibilities in this regard and concrete measures must be adopted urgently to include health education in the school curriculum, to ban unhealthy diets in the school canteen and make it a legal obligation for every school to have at least one play ground.
A number of stalls were set up at the starting point of the walk, where literature and verbal information about diabetes, it's prevention and management was provided. Moreover, free blood-sugar tests were also performed, for the participants.
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