Lack of Self-Education and Practice; a Significant Factor in the Rise of Diabetes in Pakistan

Hamna Aslam; M Asadullah Mohsin

Lack of Self-Education and Practice; a Significant Factor in the Rise of Diabetes in Pakistan

Hamna Aslam and M Asadullah Mohsin*

Department of Endocrinology, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Karachi, Pakistan

*Corresponding Author:

M Asadullah Mohsin
Department of Endocrinology
Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology
Karachi
Pakistan
E-mail: masadullahmohsin@gmail.com

Received date: August 08, 2023, Manuscript No. ipemoa-23-17664; Editor assigned date: August 10, 2023, PreQC No. ipemoa-23-17664 (PQ); Reviewed date: August 24, 2023, QC No. ipemoa-23-17664; Revised date: February 08, 2025, Manuscript No. ipemoa-23-17664 (R); Published date: February 15, 2025, DOI: 10.36648/ipemoa.9.1.183

Citation: Aslam H, Mohsin MS (2025) Lack of Self-Education and Practice; a Significant Factor in the Rise of Diabetes in Pakistan. Endocrinol Metab Vol:9 No:1

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Description

In view of the recent statistics by the world of statistics on diabetes, Pakistan has been ranked at the top, with 1 in 4 individuals having diabetes [1]. After this discovery, the situation is becoming alarming, raising serious questions about the country's prevalence rate and management of the disease. The disease is a complex and aggressive metabolic disorder and results from several bad health conditions such as obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and harmful dietary intake [2]. Diabetes leads to many other life-threatening complications, including CVS, neuropathy, and nephropathy [3].

Considering its rise and spread on a grander scale, many factors are responsible. Insufficient knowledge and education among individuals, especially patients, is one of the crucial factors followed by the lack of practice and poor compliance toward the understanding of management and disease prevention.

Acquiring knowledge has the foremost importance in managing the disease that has now been regarded as the silent killer [4]. Without proper education, the individuals with the disease or those at risk of developing the disease don’t even know about their life-threatening enemy. Unfortunately, the general population of Pakistan lacks knowledge of the risk factors of diabetes along with the management and care for diabetes [5].

According to the research that was conducted over the past years about awareness and knowledge, the general population has insufficient knowledge about diabetes [6]. The situation is more alarming in the rural population that lacks resources as well as awareness of complications of diabetes [7]. People lack awareness of fasting precautions regarding diabetes [8]. Apart from the general population, there is also a gap in the knowledge of nurses and residents related to diabetes [9].

Education and awareness regarding not only diabetes but also lifestyle, dietary changes, and health conditions are necessary and are of utmost importance. This is particularly important for the initial risk factor stage and the early diagnosis stage. It is essential to be aware of all complications associated with the progressive stages. However, 40% of diabetics are unaware of the normal blood sugar levels and 75% of insulin users did not know that using U-40 or U-100 does not change the required dose [10].

The next significant factor is the practical implementation of knowledge about managing the disease. A considerable proportion, although having some awareness, fails to handle it due to a lack of practice of the necessary measures. Almost every individual knows that dietary cholesterol has a dose related positive effect on the risk of diabetes [11] but diabetics are not willing to compromise on fried foods.

In Pakistan, there is also a factor of less adherence and noncompliance to the preventive recommendations. The compliance of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus patients on biannual checking of HbA1c is only 45% [12]. Moreover, the Pakistani culture of social gatherings and food results in less compliance and nonadherence to the practical implementation of dietary knowledge. After diagnosis, only 36% of people make strict changes in diet and there is a positive correlation between reported dessert/mangoes intake and HbA1c levels. There is a lack of knowledge about glycemic indices of different food items and diet management in diabetes.

Awareness campaigns and seminars were conducted in the previous years in the country, and measures were taken to manage diabetes. But in account of the recent events, the need of the hour is to take immediate action to evaluate the reasons for inadequate self-education and lack of practical implementation in disease control.

Diabetes is a global concern in developing and developed countries, and as Pakistan is a struggling developing nation, being on top with most diabetics is not only bad for its reputation in the world but also places a significant burden on the country’s health care system and economy. Therefore, the management strategy should start by providing adequate education and knowledge through all means necessary in the form of advertising campaigns or awareness campaigns to every sector and class of the population, followed by the measures to be taken for the maximum possible surety of practical application of management plans. Counseling sessions should be set up at hospitals, pre-diabetics as well as individuals who are at greater risk must be instructed to regular check-ups and blood glucose tests.