Reza Mahmud :
The diabetes has turned into an epidemic form in Bangladesh, say experts on the eve of the World Diabetes Day.
The World Diabetes Day will be observed today (Monday) in the country as elsewhere in the world in a befitting manner to make people aware about diabetes.
This year the theme of the Day is “Eyes on Diabetes” and organizers will focus on early diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes and using treatments to reduce the risks of getting any serious complications.
A large number of type-1 diabetic patients are in vulnerable position due to high costs of the insulin, experts said. Professor AK Azad Khan, the President of Bangladesh Diabetic Samity on Saturday said diabetic patients are increasing alarmingly in the country. “And it has now turned into an epidemic form. There are about 71 lakh diabetic patients now in Bangladesh. Five lakh diabetic patients are dependent on insulin to live,” he said, adding it is damaging patients’ kidney, heart, eye and foot.
AK Azad Khan told journalists while addressing a press conference at BIRDEM in the city yesterday. He said some 29 diabetic patients die worldwide in every second. AK Azad Khan said the insulin is very expensive and a regular unbearable burden for the poor patients.
“Every patient needs Tk 1000 per month for insulin. The poor people are not able to bear the cost regularly.
But they cannot live without insulin. It makes their families vulnerable. The government should identify the poor patients and should give them insulin at free of cost,” he said. Sources said, around 35 lakh of diabetic patients are now under treatment at Bangladesh Diabetic Samity’s hospitals. Bangladesh Institution of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), National Healthcare Network (NHN) and Healthcare Development Project (HCDP) are providing treatment to the diabetic patients.
The 33 centers, 61 of affiliated associations and 10 more sub-affiliated associations of those organisations are providing treatment to the patients across the country including capital Dhaka.
Muhammd Saif Uddin, Secretary General of the samity, said around five lakh people die every year worldwide due to diabetes.
They put forward 15 point recommendations including keep diabetes consciousness in the text books and play grounds in schools and colleges and start awareness building programmes through radio and televisions. Experts said there are large numbers of people in Bangladesh live with type-2 diabetes without screening. It poses huge health risk in the country. They said by reducing diabetic complications Tk 2000 crore can be saved in the country.
They said, some researches have shown that by creating consciousness and early diagnosis could help to reduce the type-2 diabetes by 70 percents. Bangladesh played an important role to accept the day as the world diabetes day.
The United Nation accepted the proposal of Bangladesh to observe the day every year from 2007.
Bangladesh Diabetes Samity requested the government to propose November 14, the birthday of Frederick Grant Banting, the inventor of insulin, to observe as the world diabetes day in the united nation.
Meanwhile, the government is implementing various programmes to create awareness against all diseases, including diabetes, the Prime Minister said and called upon all concerned to come forward along with the government to prevent diabetes. Various government and non-government organizations have taken an elaborate programme to observe the day. A rally will be brought out from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) at 8.45 am today. BSMMU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qumrul Hasan Khan will lead the rally.
