Diabetes epidemic in Pakistan: Ranked #1 Globally in Prevalence

[Bhaijaan]

I just came across some data about the Diabetes situation in Pakistan and it blew my mind.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF, 2023), a staggering 33 million people in Pakistan now live with diabetes. That’s 26.7% of the adult population — the highest in the world.

What makes this worse is that nearly half of diabetics in Pakistan remain undiagnosed. By the time they reach a clinic, complications have often set in.

The situation is much worse with adult women.

Pakistan needs to seriously address its dietary habits and government regulations wrt control of harmful ingredients that trigger Diabetes.

A 45-year-old diabetic in Pakistan today may spend the rest of their life on dialysis, insulin, or worse — in complete disability. The economic cost is devastating for families already struggling with inflation and job insecurity.


More worryingly, type-2 diabetes is now being diagnosed in teenagers and young adults, once considered rare.

“We’re seeing 18-year-olds with blood sugar levels that used to appear only in the elderly,” says Dr. Muhammad Abbas, endocrinologist at Aga Khan Hospital.
“Fast food, no exercise, and zero awareness — it's a recipe for disaster.”

I don't know if there's a corelation but things are as worse in Kuwait, Saudi, Egypt, Qatar etc who all have prevalence rates exceeding 20%.

Global rate is 9% roughly and the two most populated nations have it in the range of 11-12%

 

[KingKhanWC]

Desi diet of rotis with high carbs, karahis with loads of salt, oil etc. Many dont excercise or only play a bit of cricket but no real cardio.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Poor diet.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Table 3.4, Top 10 countries or territories for number of adults (20–79 years) with diabetes in 2021 and 2045 - IDF DIABETES ATLAS - NCBI Bookshelf

 

[BouncerGuy]

@Bhaijaan I think you messed here... INdia is on number 1 here.

 

[Bhaijaan]

@Bhaijaan I think you messed here... INdia is on number 1 here.

India and China are the two most populated countries by far on the planet so they will be Top 2 in all such things.

Its important to look at % prevalence where they're both only a few % points above global average. Pakistan is 3x the global average. Its nothing to compare. India has many Health issues to take care of. Pollution and Cardiovascular diseases are a huge problem.

 

[Major]

Funny how OP dint mention India and made a thread without posting a source.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Funny how OP dint mention India and made a thread without posting a source.

india is on 2 but TBH, this Issue is pretty serious... Not targetting nay country here but this needs attention... Although Pakistan is mentioned as number 1 but yeah,,, it is what it is.

 

[IronShield]

It is not the desi diet.... It is the increased consumption of processed foods and alcohol that is causing it. And what makes it worse, is the lack of quality control in these processed foods, so you don't really know if you ate what it says on the packet.. They are probably eating more empty calories but less nutrition compared to earlier generations.

 

[Bhaijaan]

It is not the desi diet.... It is the increased consumption of processed foods and alcohol that is causing it. And what makes it worse, is the lack of quality control in these processed foods, so you don't really know if you ate what it says on the packet.. They are probably eating more empty calories but less nutrition compared to earlier generations.

Alcohol isn’t widely consumed in Pakistan compared to Western nations, or even India, Sri Lanka like liberal nations.

Processed food over consumption and poor quality control in FMCG supply chain are serious concerns however.

The traditional South Asian diet which high in carbohydrates and deep-fried foods, sugary desserts etc are definitely not serving desi people well.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

It is the desi diet for sure. Many Pakistanis consume diets as if they are Mughal emperors and unlike us in western countries who have to wear trouser they can just loosen their nala on their shalwars and continue as normal without acknowledging their poor health.

I have noticed in Pakistani culture that having a strict diet is seen as a sign of weakness and being feminine. At least in my surroundings this appears to be the case.

 

[Markhor]

It is the desi diet for sure. Many Pakistanis consume diets as if they are Mughal emperors and unlike us in western countries who have to wear trouser they can just loosen their nala on their shalwars and continue as normal without acknowledging their poor health.

I have noticed in Pakistani culture that having a strict diet is seen as a sign of weakness and being feminine. At least in my surroundings this appears to be the case.

Spot on.

Many of our elders hold the misconception that being fat equates to being sehatmand and a sign of affluence when the reality couldn't be any different.

It's not just the high fat, high sugar desi diet that's one of the biggest contributors to insulin resistant Type 2 diabetes - it's the combination with sedentary lifestyles leading to massive calorie surpluses.

Cue the arguments that there aren't a lot of open, green spaces in overcrowded, polluted Pakistani cities, most are too exhausted to exercise after a day's manual labour, and gym memberships are unaffordable.

To that I ask: what does it cost to skip the jug of mango lassi to wash down the parantha drenched with Atlantic Ocean levels of ghee and keema ? What does it cost to have a normal cuppa instead of drinking a liquified bag of sugar aka desi chai along with the seemingly mandatory rusk cake?

 

[RexRex]

Of late I've been ignoring breakfast, lunch and dinner and just having chocolate bars all day. Mainly Twix and Snickers.

It's a miracle I don't have diabetes .. yet.

 

[rpant_gabba]

It is the desi diet for sure. Many Pakistanis consume diets as if they are Mughal emperors and unlike us in western countries who have to wear trouser they can just loosen their nala on their shalwars and continue as normal without acknowledging their poor health.

I have noticed in Pakistani culture that having a strict diet is seen as a sign of weakness and being feminine. At least in my surroundings this appears to be the case.

combination.

worsening diet.

Free sugar used to be a rarity: now common place.

All grains, wheat and rice are stripped of all nutrients of the whole grain and just he germ is consumed.

Low level of activity: Went form walking 5+ plus miles a day to may be a couple.

availability of (heavingly processed) food at all times of the day

A deadly combination. Was able to revive an insulin purification factory just in Puerto Rico just to supply to India.

 

[rpant_gabba]

Spot on.

Many of our elders hold the misconception that being fat equates to being sehatmand and a sign of affluence when the reality couldn't be any different.

It's not just the high fat, high sugar desi diet that's one of the biggest contributors to insulin resistant Type 2 diabetes - it's the combination with sedentary lifestyles leading to massive calorie surpluses.

Cue the arguments that there aren't a lot of open, green spaces in overcrowded, polluted Pakistani cities, most are too exhausted to exercise after a day's manual labour, and gym memberships are unaffordable.

To that I ask: what does it cost to skip the jug of mango lassi to wash down the parantha drenched with Atlantic Ocean levels of ghee and keema ? What does it cost to have a normal cuppa instead of drinking a liquified bag of sugar aka desi chai along with the seemingly mandatory rusk cake ?

Bingo. we have Bingo.

 

[IronShield]

Alcohol isn’t widely consumed in Pakistan compared to Western nations, or even India, Sri Lanka like liberal nations.

Processed food over consumption and poor quality control in FMCG supply chain are serious concerns however.

The traditional South Asian diet which high in carbohydrates and deep-fried foods, sugary desserts etc are definitely not serving desi people well.

Alcohol is widely consumed in Pakistan and available everywhere albeit you have to know where to get it from.

If you go back to your grandparents, did they eat fried foods or sugary deserts all the time. The answer to that would be a resounding no. In fact in their routine, most of the time they had fresh home cooked food from scratch 3 times a day with lots of salad and vegetables as major part of that. The body needs carbs, your energy system depends on it so there is nothing wrong with desi diet per se, even desi ghee is the best for cooking foods and better than the seed oils that we have now become all accustomed to.

Lets do a comparison of how much whole foods and in this instance lets use banana you need to eat for say 500 calories compared to processed foods (doughnut).

2 Doughnuts will give you 500 cals, one average banana will give you 100 cals, so you will need to eat 5 bananas to get 500 cals. It is quite a challenge to eat 5 bananas straight up compared to 2 doughnuts which are easily consumed. Not only that, after consuming the doughnuts, you will be hungry again in an hour or two so as the food has gone through the system very quickly. Whereas with the bananas what most likely will happen is that you will have 2 or 3 bananas before you get the feeling of being full and you will stop, couple of hours later you might feel hungry again and the remaining two bananas will give you another couple of hours before you feel like that you need to eat again. The availability and consumption of excess calories from processed foods is the issue and in the west particularly Europe, it is now being seen as a major health hazard.

 

[rpant_gabba]

Alcohol is widely consumed in Pakistan and available everywhere albeit you have to know where to get it from.

If you go back to your grandparents, did they eat fried foods or sugary deserts all the time. The answer to that would be a resounding no. In fact in their routine, most of the time they had fresh home cooked food from scratch 3 times a day with lots of salad and vegetables as major part of that. The body needs carbs, your energy system depends on it so there is nothing wrong with desi diet per se, even desi ghee is the best for cooking foods and better than the seed oils that we have now become all accustomed to.

Lets do a comparison of how much whole foods and in this instance lets use banana you need to eat for say 500 calories compared to processed foods (doughnut).

2 Doughnuts will give you 500 cals, one average banana will give you 100 cals, so you will need to eat 5 bananas to get 500 cals. It is quite a challenge to eat 5 bananas straight up compared to 2 doughnuts which are easily consumed. Not only that, after consuming the doughnuts, you will be hungry again in an hour or two so as the food has gone through the system very quickly. Whereas with the bananas what most likely will happen is that you will have 2 or 3 bananas before you get the feeling of being full and you will stop, couple of hours later you might feel hungry again and the remaining two bananas will give you another couple of hours before you feel like that you need to eat again. The availability and consumption of excess calories from processed foods is the issue and in the west particularly Europe, it is now being seen as a major health hazard.

you'll enjoy this.

 

[sweep_shot]

Diabetes can apparently be reversed with intermittent fasting, a low-sugar diet, and exercise. It cannot be done overnight but it can be reversed over time with discipline.

 

[Thulsa]

As someone that has achieved Diabetic Remission (you cannot reverse diabetes - that is not possible). There is so much that is flat out wrong that is palmed off as ‘the magic rule’ in the guise of advice.

Here is what I’ve learned:

1) Diabetes is not a disease about sugar, it is all about circulation. Elevated blood sugar levels are just a symptom

2) Diet and activity levels are the only controllable factors - genetics is not something you can do anything about. Especially if you’re of Asian origin

3) In subcontinental culture, the reason it is so prevalent is the belief that ‘it’s just me’ - it isn’t. There is a strong genetic passdown which means parents pass it onto their children and so this curse passes through family lineage. Most parents cannot or will not instill proper dietary discipline - if you want to stop your children getting this, then start in the kitchen

4) In the UK, Diabetes is managed as retrospective management - pop a metformin and let’s see your hba1c in 3 months. Utterly worthless

5) The most valuable person in your diabetic pathway team is a dietician - fix your diet, get active and diabetes control is perfectly within reach. But that means taking a lot of personal responsibility which many cannot be bothered with

 

[Thulsa]

Alcohol is widely consumed in Pakistan and available everywhere albeit you have to know where to get it from.

If you go back to your grandparents, did they eat fried foods or sugary deserts all the time. The answer to that would be a resounding no. In fact in their routine, most of the time they had fresh home cooked food from scratch 3 times a day with lots of salad and vegetables as major part of that. The body needs carbs, your energy system depends on it so there is nothing wrong with desi diet per se, even desi ghee is the best for cooking foods and better than the seed oils that we have now become all accustomed to.

Lets do a comparison of how much whole foods and in this instance lets use banana you need to eat for say 500 calories compared to processed foods (doughnut).

2 Doughnuts will give you 500 cals, one average banana will give you 100 cals, so you will need to eat 5 bananas to get 500 cals. It is quite a challenge to eat 5 bananas straight up compared to 2 doughnuts which are easily consumed. Not only that, after consuming the doughnuts, you will be hungry again in an hour or two so as the food has gone through the system very quickly. Whereas with the bananas what most likely will happen is that you will have 2 or 3 bananas before you get the feeling of being full and you will stop, couple of hours later you might feel hungry again and the remaining two bananas will give you another couple of hours before you feel like that you need to eat again. The availability and consumption of excess calories from processed foods is the issue and in the west particularly Europe, it is now being seen as a major health hazard.

You’re missing a key point - balance. Fibre is a Diabetics best friend and we do not eat anywhere near enough.

People from the Med have very low rates of Diabetes and yet have a diet rich in carbs - why? Because the issue is not carbs per se but the macro nutrients.

Whole foods, plant based food, fibre (both kinds).

Think about it, as technology has progressed as a species our muscles are what are being affected. Ditto AI for cognitive function.

But our internal anatomy? Pretty much unchanged. We in the west have ultra processed everything in our diet and our bodies organs are not designed to cope - Diabetes is in my view the greatest health crisis we are sleep walking into. Most people think it’s just sugar - it isn’t. Cardio vascular disease, amputations, retinopathy, neuropathy, kidney failure etc - all consequences of poor glycemic control.

And if you are diagnosed - there isn’t any going back. The best you can hope for is remission. Essentially pressing the pause button. But it’s with you for life.