The problem of diabetes in Pakistan has escalated into an important issue that affects millions within the country. This number of adults shoots up to approximately 33 million. With such high prevalence rates, it has, therefore, placed Pakistan among the top countries for diabetes prevalence.
In this article, you will learn about the effects of diabetes both on health and the economy in Pakistan, its complications, the challenges faced in managing diabetes, and more. This is a health crisis requiring emergent attention because diabetes results in grave health implications and imposes a considerable economic burden on the individual family unit and the healthcare system.
Diabetes Prevalence Surge in Pakistan
Diabetes has become a major public health crisis in Pakistan. Alarming rates of growth in diabetes pose the country before a major public health crisis.
Pakistan is now on the list of countries whose prevalence rate of diabetes is higher in the world. This is due to changes in lifestyle, urbanization, and lack of awareness concerning the disease.
Prevalence and Statistics
Diabetes has the largest share in the total proportion of the adult population in Pakistan. Recent estimates have shown that approximately 33 million people suffer from diabetes, and it is believed more cases remain undiagnosed.
This means one-fourth of adults may be suffering from this disease without their knowledge. Compared to the global statistics, Pakistan is ranked third in terms of the prevalence of diabetes. The incidence of diabetes has been widely associated with some factors, such as bad diet, lack of sufficient physical exercise, and genetic background.
Types of Diabetes Commonly Seen
In Pakistan, several forms of diabetes occur. Type 1 diabetes is rare and is most often diagnosed in children and teenagers; it is caused by a failure of the body to produce insulin, an essential hormone that controls the blood sugar content within the body.
It occurs far more frequently than Type 2 and is also typically at a late age in the life cycle. The causes are either lack of production of insulin or impaired use of the hormone. The disorder often accompanies lifestyles that are obese and sedentary.
Health Impact of Diabetes in Pakistan
As diabetes has serious health implications for both the patients and society generally in Pakistan, rising numbers of affected subjects translate into growing complications resulting from the disease.
This results in severe health implications, not only for the patients but also for the relatives of patients and the healthcare system in general. These impacts are a precondition for tackling the diabetes crisis on the rise in Pakistan.
Complications Associated with Diabetes
Diabetes is such a disease that creates many complications related to health issues, which affect the lifestyle of a person highly. Some of these complications include heart disease and renal failure, coupled with vision problems. Blood vessels in diabetics are damaged; therefore, patient’s increased risks of suffering from heart attacks and strokes also increase.
High diabetes symptoms are that kidney failure leads to the kidneys losing their filtering ability to remove waste materials from the blood. Diabetic patients become patients requiring dialysis or a transplant of the kidney.
Mental Health Implications
Diabetes instills another form of mental pressure on the person. Controlling blood sugar levels, following dietary habits, and obligatory visits to the doctor are unbearable mental burdens for many.
This stress often leads to anxiety and depression, making it increasingly difficult for people to cope with their condition. The dreaded complications or getting worse make everything even worse in one’s mental health.
Diabetes may influence social relationships. Individuals may feel stigmatized or even ashamed of their condition and withdraw from social situations altogether. This further isolates the individual, contributing towards exacerbating mental health issues and potentially creating a cycle from which they cannot easily break.
These mental health challenges must be recognized alongside physical health challenges, as these are likely to form a very important part of care for patients living with diabetes in Pakistan.
Economic Impact of Diabetes in Pakistan
This also affects the health of the patient, besides causing a massive economic shock to the family and the national level. The cost for the management of diabetes is, therefore, categorized into two major headings: direct and indirect cost.
Direct Costs of Diabetes Care
Direct costs of diabetes care refer to every expenditure incurred in the management of the disease. It refers to spending on drugs, visits for check-ups, and tests that are normally necessary in the management of the disease.
Many such families also face financial pressure from such continuous expenses. Many people have to compromise with other necessary expenses, for example, food or education, to take care of the diabetic state.
Community-based health programs by CCD cooperation from health care providers help in such expenditure burdens with available cheap drugs and resources to manage better care of the disease.
Indirect Costs to the Economy
Regardless of the direct costs, diabetes also comes along with indirect costs to the economy. Probably the biggest deal is the lost productivity in time as a result of illness. When people with diabetes end up experiencing complications or have to frequently report to hospitals for treatment, they may miss work or not perform at their level best.
Even the economic effect extends to the healthcare facilities and national resources. An increase in health care services and treatments puts extra pressure on healthcare setups that might already be operating on scarce resources.
Therefore, this situation would bring about a higher healthcare cost for all citizens along with increased stress on public health systems. Management of the diabetes epidemic in Pakistan would entail both direct as well as indirect costs.
Challenges in Managing Diabetes in Pakistan
There are several challenges that prevent proper diabetes care and prevention in Pakistan. Most of them lie in a lack of awareness and education about the disease, along with serious access issues to healthcare. Any effective way forward has to begin with understanding such reasons.
Lack of Awareness and Education
Public education and awareness are one of the greatest, insurmountable obstacles in managing diabetes. This lack of information makes it hard for people to appreciate the need for frequent checks and proper management.
For many years now, gaps in education have been there both in the identification and prevention of diabetes. Many lack knowledge regarding what healthy eating looks like or exercise for regulating high blood sugar.
Public awareness campaigns educated the population about diabetes and its dangers, giving more people control of the disease. Without such education, most people do not realize how lifestyle factors contribute to diabetes or even worsen a condition. Lack of such knowledge leads to delayed diagnosis and complications easily avoided if detected early.
Healthcare Access Issues
Another main issue is healthcare access, especially the urban-rural divide. Most likely, in the urban areas, there would be better access to their medical facilities and care regarding diabetes compared to the rural settings.
As such, most rural settings lack proper health infrastructure, so their subjects cannot be diagnosed or even treated based on diabetes. These clinics may sometimes be too far apart, and even if they are available, there aren’t the required resources or trained personnel to administer proper care.
As a result, they may end up seeing traditional healers or avoiding the doctor altogether, thereby having many undiagnosed cases and worsening health conditions. This is why disparities need to be reduced so that proper care and diabetes management are bestowed upon everyone.
Role of CCD in Diabetes Management and Support
Collaborative care of diseases (CCD) is imperative in diabetes management in Faisalabad and taking care of those suffering from this illness, especially in Pakistan. It is still trying to move forward in terms of diabetes care and prevention for the communities through health programs and campaigns for public awareness.
Health Initiatives and Programs
The CCD has launched a series of initiatives to care for and prevent diabetes. A few include organizing screening events at the community level, educational workshops, and support groups for people afflicted with the disease.
The CCD in Faisalabad organizes health camps with blood sugar testing and consultation with health professionals for the detection of at-risk cases as well as undiagnosed cases.
Our team of experts educates diabetes patients in health-teaching classes, which instruct the consumer on how to appropriately eat, exercise, and manage diabetes. These programs allow individuals who are armed with information and resources to control their health.
Public Awareness Efforts
CCD conducts diabetes awareness programs and outreach to communities. This is done to orient the public on diabetes, the dangers associated with it, common symptoms, high diabetes symptoms, and the urgency of early detection.
As CCD reaches all sections of people in Faisalabad, it maximizes awareness of what diabetes is and how not to let it happen. The nature of the focus on education for people as well as for the community to make the environment friendly for people suffering from the problem of diabetes makes it work toward a healthier Pakistan in the future.
Conclusion
The increased incidence of diabetes in Pakistan is a serious challenge affecting not only one’s health but also the economy at large. It is thus important to understand the various complications and economic burdens it causes to this disease. The health effects of diabetes are not just physical; they damage one’s mental health and burden the family financially as well.
Lack of awareness and uneven access to health care issues add complex dimensions to effective management. Such CCD improvement in the lives of Pakistan’s patients with diabetes and an overall reduction in the impact of diabetes in that society. There is a need for more attention to be given to preventive measures coupled with proper care of the ailment.
FAQs
What is the current scenario of diabetes in Pakistan?
Diabetes in Pakistan is one of the serious health issues affecting Approximately 33 million adults.
What health complications arise from diabetes?
Diabetes can cause serious complications and diseases, including heart disease, kidney failure, and vision problems.
How does diabetes affect mental health?
People living with diabetes can have stress, anxiety, and depression due to the constant management required.
What does CCD do in terms of the management of diabetes?
The CCD offers health programs and screenings and organizes various educational workshops for diabetes patients.
