Three-fold increase in diabetes cases in 20 years

KARACHI: Pakistan has registered a three-fold increase in the incidence rate of type 2 diabetes during the past 20 years with 26.3 per cent people of the country, encompassing both rural and urban, inflicted with the disease, said Prof Abdul Basit, president (elect) International Diabetes Federation for Asia, Pacific and Mediterranean region here on Sunday.

Addressing a programme organised by the Diabetic Association of Pakistan and WHO Collaborating Centre to mark World Diabetes Day, he said the last study conducted in 1996-1997 identified 8.9 per cent of people suffering from diabetes.