The Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSR&C) emphasised that diabetes, HIV, Hepatitis C, neonatal mortality and malnutrition must be treated as national emergencies, stressing that prevention, screening, treatment and measurable disease reduction outcomes should take precedence over construction of new buildings and expansion of non-critical infrastructure. The Committee, on Tuesday met […]
Diabetes
Rising Epidemic of Diabetes and Hypertension
The rapid escalation of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Pakistan, particularly diabetes and hypertension, has become a serious public health concern. Once considered illnesses associated with affluent societies, these diseases are now prevalent across all socio-economic classes in Pakistan. A combination of genetic predisposition, lifestyle changes, urbanisation, and dietary habits has fuelled this alarming trend. If […]
US may deny visas over health conditions under new guidance
WASHINGTON: The U.S. State Department has issued new guidance allowing visa officers to deny entry to foreign nationals with certain medical conditions, including diabetes and obesity, citing potential dependence on government-funded health services. The directive, sent to embassies and consulates worldwide, instructs officers to evaluate applicants for health issues that could make them a “public […]
Punjab’s Children Face Obesity Time Bomb
LAHORE: A new World Obesity Federation report has sounded the alarm on the rapid rise of childhood obesity in Punjab, warning that the province is heading towards a severe diabetes crisis if urgent action is not taken. The international study ranks Pakistan fifth globally for childhood obesity, with Punjab recording the sharpest increase in overweight […]
Higher taxation on beverages, less diabetes
KARACHI: The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) has proposed to Pakistan to contemplate increasing the taxes on sugary beverages in its upcoming budget to prevent diabetes among people. A recent study of the consumption trends for sugar beverages in Pakistan (Datta and Husain, 2020) shows that carbonated beverages have become an integral part of the Pakistani […]
Weight-loss surgery may help cut risk of breast cancer
Severely obese women who opt for weight-loss surgery may be cutting their risk of breast cancer along with their extra pounds, a large US study suggests. Researchers compared two groups of women with morbid obesity: nearly 18,000 who underwent various forms of so-called bariatric surgery and nearly 54,000 who did not. The groups were similar […]
Qatar seeks to transform diabetes care with ‘whole nation’ project
In an unremarkable office in a Doha hospital, a study is taking place which could transform the way Qatar deals with one of its most persistent health issues — diabetes. A small team led by professor Khalid Hussain has since last year been entering youngsters aged up to 18 with diabetes into a nationwide database, […]
Diabetic patients should consult doctors before fasting
Medical experts on Friday strongly advised diabetic patients to take their medical condition into consideration, well in advance, before fasting. “Many patients often opt for self-medication, based on their or others’ personal experiences, while trying to maintain their sugar level. Doctors treating diabetic patients should encourage their patients to regularly visit and seek advice before […]