KABUL (SW) – In connection with the World Diabetes Day, the officials in the Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan told Salam Watandar that the number of people suffering from this disease and the death rate due to it are increasing in the country.
Sharaf Zaman Amarkhil, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Health, says: “Unfortunately, as the number of people suffering from diabetes is increasing, it is clear that the death rate of this disease is also increasing, and in Afghanistan there are figures that show how many of our compatriots are affected by this disease and have died. Our wish is that our citizens pay attention to sports and use less foods that contain glucose.”
On the other hand, some people with diabetes say that this disease has made them suffer from many other diseases as well. Abdul Jamil, who was diagnosed with diabetes 16 years ago and lost the sight in both eyes two years ago, says that he uses insulin twice a day to control his disease.
He has also gone to Pakistan and Iran to treat his disease, he adds: “I can’t eat everything because my sugar rises. Anyone who has this disease should avoid fats, sweets, rice and meat because this is a very dangerous disease.”
Similarly, 43-year-old Abdul Rafi, who came to one of the diabetes control centers in Kabul city to control his diabetes, says that besides himself, four members of his family are also suffering from this disease. He, who now has reduced vision in both eyes due to his diabetes, adds: “This disease is like a sleeping lion. If we do not take care of it, it attacks every part of the body. General weakness is common. I myself use medicine to control this disease, I cannot eat many foods.”
Meanwhile, the officials in one of the diabetes control centers in Kabul city say that the number of diabetic patients is increasing day by day and more than 80 patients visit this center every day to control their disease.
Emil Monib, a doctor at the diabetes control center in Kabul, says: “All ages come to this center, but there are more elderly people because diabetes patients differ according to age. Type one of this disease is those who are under the age of 30, and this type of sugar is very dangerous, and type two is those who are over the age of 30, these people also come and take tablets for a long time.”
However, a number of doctors say lack of physical activity, family history, ageing and high blood pressure as the main causes of diabetes.
Ahmad Javid Adeeb Shalezai, a doctor at the “Maiwand” hospital in Kabul city, says that diabetes is a dangerous disease and if it is not controlled, it causes serious damage to the eyes, kidneys and nerves.
He adds: “Those who are suffering from this disease should be very aware, pay attention to their nutrition, include fruits and vegetables in their food, should not use too much carbohydrates and should exercise. Those who get this disease should be diagnosed with which type of this disease they have.”
It should be noted that the World Health Organization has announced on the occasion of World Diabetes Day that one and a half million people in the world die every year due to this disease.
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