Pakistan is among the countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes with the number of patients continuously increasing, speakers said at a World Diabetes Day seminar. The Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM) and Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences, Karachi, in collaboration with the Express Media Group, organised the seminar titled "Early Action on Diabetes". Pharmaceutical companies Getz Pharma, Nabiqasim Pharma, Martin Dow, ATCO, HIGH-Q, Highnoon, PharmEvo, Hoechst Pakistan, Searle, Scilife and Servier also supported the programme. PSIM Patron-in-Chief Professor Javed Akram was the chief guest and President Professor Aftab Mohsin was the guest of honour. Professor M Zaman Shaikh. Chairman of the PSIM National Diabetes Chapter organised the seminar. A number of medical professionals, students and people from different walks of life attended the event. Professor Dr Javed Akram said on the occasion that around 80 per cent of people in the country were suffering from diabetes, while half of them were unaware that they had developed the disease. The tragedy, he added, was that the remaining people were also at risk of becoming diabetic. "This is an important issue, and preventing diabetes seems difficult. It is the responsibility of the government and every individual to play their role in combating this disease. The good thing is that it is preventable, and by adopting a healthy lifestyle, we can control it. If we manage our weight and start exercising, half of the disease burden can be overcome. If diabetes runs in a family, the risk of developing the disease increases. Once a person becomes a patient, the disease damages the entire body. The unfortunate thing is that it is a lifelong disease but if it is diagnosed and treatment is started, we can manage it," he said. Professor M Zaman Shaikh said, "Every year, we organise a seminar in Lahore in collaboration with the Express Media Group and PSIM to highlight issues related to diabetes. This time we especially invited family physicians to discuss the disease. Diabetes is different from many other diseases because it remains with patients throughout their lives. There are very few diseases that stay with a person for life but diabetes is one of them. A healthy lifestyle, proper diet and exercise are the best ways to manage this disease and these habits certainly help control it. People should remember that diabetes is a silent killer and there is a need to understand the seriousness of the situation and make every possible effort to protect themselves from it." Prof Aftab Mohsin said maintaining a good sleeping routine was extremely important for health. "Good sleep is essential for human health. If we sleep for less than seven hours, the risk of a heart attack increases. Anyone experiencing sleeping problems should consult a doctor. Managing weight and blood pressure, maintaining a balanced diet and exercising are important for diabetes patients." Prof Khalid Mahmood said there was a need to maintain a balanced diet and reduce the consumption of sugar and salt in daily meals. He said walking was particularly important for people suffering from diabetes. Although people often complained of pain while walking, they needed to understand the importance of walking and exercise. He added that patients should regularly monitor their blood sugar levels and consult medical experts regarding their medication. Prof Mujtaba Hasan said it was encouraging that effective medicines were now available to control diabetes and that many patients were successfully managing their condition through medication. However, he stressed that selecting the most suitable medicine for each patient was important. Doctors should particularly consider whether a patient had heart-related or other medical complications and prescribe medicines that carry no additional risks for them. Prof Azizur Rahman said the importance of insulin in treating diabetes could not be denied, adding that it played a vital role in controlling the disease. He said the discovery of insulin had been a major breakthrough and several advancements and variations had since been introduced. He said insulin formulations that remained effective for up to one week had also been developed internationally and might soon be introduced in Pakistan. People should consider insulin a treatment rather than a punishment, he added. Prof Sajid Abaid Ullah said diabetes patients needed to change their lifestyles, particularly by paying attention to their diets. He advised patients to avoid rice, white bread and sugar and develop a proper timetable for their meals. Prof Gulshad Hassan said stress, unemployment, financial difficulties and poverty were also important factors contributing to the increasing number of diabetes patients in society. "The government should take steps to address these factors because without controlling and improving these conditions, it will be difficult to deal with the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the country," he said. Dr Somia Iqtadar said there was considerable fear and misunderstanding among people regarding the use of insulin. People often claimed that the era of insulin treatment had ended, which was incorrect, she added, stressing the need for public awareness and proper guidance about its importance. "We should remember that we are moving towards becoming the country with the highest number of diabetes patients in the world. There is a need to seriously consider this issue. We are also living in a country with one of the highest ratios of pregnant women suffering from diabetes, with Pakistan ranking sixth in this regard," she said. Dr Nabeel Akbar Chaudhry said the risk of heart attacks increased among diabetes patients, making it essential for them to monitor their cholesterol levels. He added that patients should also pay attention to their blood pressure, weight and kidney health, while making exercise a priority. Dr Shehla Akram said diabetes patients should exercise strict control over their diets and ensure that their meals contain fewer carbohydrates. She advised people to have dinner at least three hours before going to bed, focus on exercise and maintain a healthy diet. Dr Sadia Salman said everyone understood that diabetes was a dangerous disease and posed a serious threat to future generations, but people were not responding positively by taking preventive measures. "There is a need to address diabetes at the individual level. For this purpose, we must first change our habits, consume healthy food and make exercise a priority," she said. Ajmal Sattar Malik, Editor Forum, Daily Express, said it was an excellent tradition of Express Media Group to highlight social issues alongside its news coverage, analysis and programmes. "Health has always been one of our priorities among social issues, and every year we organise different programmes to highlight health-related concerns. Today's seminar was part of this effort, and I am grateful to Prof M Zaman Shaikh for his support in organising an excellent event to highlight the issue of diabetes,” he said. Panel discussion was moderated by Dr Wafa Qaisar. Various pharmaceutical companies also set up stalls at the seminar, where free medical check-ups were offered. Medical experts also guided participants and answered their questions regarding diabetes and other health issues.