Diabetes and the Role of Tertiary Care Hospitals
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a worldwide health problem affecting more than 415 million individuals; this estimate is expected to be projected to 642 million individuals by end of the year 2040. Diabetes prevalence, deaths attributable to diabetes, and health expenditure due to diabetes continue to rise across the globe with important social, financial and health system implications.1 In cross-sectional survey conducted in urban and rural areas of four provinces of Pakistan, the overall prevalence of glucose intolerance (Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance) was estimated as 22.04% in urban and 17.15% in rural areas. The major risk factors of diabetes mellitus identified were increasing age, positive family history and obesity especially central obesity.2 In another limited survey published from the area of Dir (KPK) in the year 2016, similar rising trends of the disease were verified.3
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