Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity (Dec 2018)

Current management strategies to target the increasing incidence of diabetes within Pakistan

  • Basit A,
  • Fawwad A,
  • Siddiqui SA,
  • Baqa K

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 85 – 96

Abstract

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Abdul Basit,1 Asher Fawwad,2 Shaista Ali Siddiqui,3,4 Kulsoom Baqa4 1Department of Medicine, Baqai Medical University, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan; 2Department of Biochemistry, Baqai Medical University, Research Departments, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan; 3Kaizen Management Consultancy, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; 4Research Department, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Baqai Medical University Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan Abstract: According to the recently published National Diabetes Survey of Pakistan (NDSP 2016–2017), the prevalence of diabetes is 26.3%. Hence, Pakistan has around 27.4 million people >20 years of age suffering with diabetes. Compared to previous estimation of having around 7 million diabetic patients based on a survey done in 1994–1998, the figures are disturbingly alarming. The four main strategies to tackle the rising incidence of diabetes in Pakistan are as follows: 1) creating multidisciplinary teams through capacity building of the health care professionals (HCPs), including doctors, dieticians, diabetes educators, diabetes foot assistants, and program managers in standardized evidence-based protocols, enhancing their knowledge and skills in managing diabetes and their related comorbidities; 2) promoting primary prevention and awareness all over Pakistan using screening methods such as Risk Assessment of Pakistani Individuals for Diabetes (RAPID); 3) defining strategies for the management and prevention of diabetes and its complication through forums such as the Pakistan Diabetes Leadership Forum (PDLF); and 4) implementing a nationwide diabetes care program including registration, treatment, and referral protocols. The epidemic of diabetes in an under-resourced and overburdened health care system of Pakistan poses a serious challenge not only for the doctors but also for the multiple stakeholders involved in the community systems. There is a need for promoting and screening the population using RAPID and registering people with diabetes through Diabetes Registry of Pakistan (DROP). Future priority areas and interventional strategies shall include the following: implementing a diabetes health care service model in both rural and urban population using evidence-based clinical guidelines along with lifestyle modifications (LSMs) and prevention policies. Current management strategies and proposed future directions may successfully target the increasing incidence of diabetes. Keywords: non-communicable diseases, primary prevention, health care service model, guidelines

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