LAHORE: The government will include a subject on diabetes in the syllabus of nursing schools so that doctors and nurses could be given more guidelines for treatment of patients. Ameeruddin Medical College Principal Professor Dr Muhammad Tayyab who also works at Lahore General Hospital, expressed these views while addressing the Hands On Workshop held for nurses at Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences which was organised by LGH Diabetes Centre In-Charge Dr Imran Hassan Khan and his team on Saturday. He added that keeping in view the increasing number of diabetes patients, it is important to start specialisation courses also so that nursing staff could be benefitted maximum in this regard. Punjab Nursing Director General Kausar Parveen and nurses from different hospitals in a large number attended who were given lectures by Dr Imran Hassan Khan, Dr Maliha Hameed, Dr Kashif Aziz Ahmed, Dr Salman Shakeel, Dr Rizwan and Dr Rana Asif Saghir who also threw light on the use and preservation of insulin. Professor Muhammad Tayyab added that diabetes is not a disease. Just a slight improvement in lifestyle can help us overcome this illness. He said that unfortunately in Pakistan, female diabetes patients are more in number and in far flung areas; many women are deprived of proper checkups, diagnosis and treatment. He said that 40 percent of women are suffering from diabetes at early ages. He mentioned how pregnant women suffering from diabetes needed to get proper checkups done from qualified gynecologists. He also suggested that diabetes patients should avoid mangoes, grapes and persimmons and refrain from sitting more than 30 minutes continuously so that proper blood circulation could be ensured in their body. Other speakers at the workshop expressed concerns on the death rate of 80,000 patients annually because of diabetes and said that many complications occur due to illness. If in the next 20 years, it is not controlled, then Pakistan would be the eighth largest country having the maximum number of diabetes patients. As per report of World Health Organisation, out of 10 big deadly illnesses, diabetes is on the sixth number. They said that obesity, smoking, lack of exercise and unhealthy life styles are the main reasons of diabetes. Diabetes can also cause paralysis, heart attacks and affect eyesight as well. They advised patients to keep hands and feet clean and safe and also exercise regularly. Similarly, oily food and takeaways should be avoided. Published in Daily Times, October 21st 2018.