title: Improving diabetes care in developing countries: the example of Pakistan.
abstract: Pakistan is a developing country with limited recourses and diverse economic social patterns. Pakistan has high prevalence of diabetes and its complication, which is a huge challenge to the existing health care system. The major contributing risk factors are urbanization and change in lifestyle, maternal and fetal malnutrition and genetic factors. National action plans for control of diabetes have been made since 1995 but actions in this regard were not perfect. Training of primary care physicians and development of multidisciplinary diabetes care teams was initiated. Prioritization strategies were defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) guidance, mainly focusing on diabetic foot, diabetes education and children with diabetes. Researches for better understanding and management of diabetes in Pakistan were undertaken. Collaboration between various stakeholders was promoted at national and international level. In summary, public private relationships and development of multifaceted approaches is expected to improve the lives of millions of diabetics of Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology Baqai Medical University, Plot No. 1-2, II-B, Nazimabad No. 2, Karachi 74600, Pakistan. Electronic address: research@bideonline.com.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basit
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology Baqai Medical University, Plot No. 1-2, II-B, Nazimabad No. 2, Karachi 74600, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Musarrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Riaz
authors.affiliation: Baqai Medical University Senior Research Scientist Research Department Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology Baqai Medical University, Plot No. 1-2, II-B, Nazimabad No. 2, Karachi 74600, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asher
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fawwad
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D003906:Developing Countries; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006266:Health Education / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Diabetes care in developing countries