ISLAMABAD: As Pakistan faces a massive upswing in diabetes cases, with one in three adults affected, ranking the country at the top globally for diabetes prevalence, experts warn that if the trend persists, a staggering 62 million Pakistanis will be living with diabetes and grappling with its associated complications by 2045.
The empirical evidence suggests that unhealthy dietary habits, characterised by high sugar and industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFAs), are major contributors to this epidemic.
iTFAs are commonly present in banaspati ghee, cooking oils, bakery products, desserts, fried street foods, and various ultra-processed foods.
This link between the diabetes and iTFA intake has been highlighted by TRANSFORM Pakistan campaign in a press release issued on World Diabetes Day.
The campaign was launched earlier this year by Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), with the goal of regulating the prevalence of industrially produced TFAs in Pakistani dietary sources, with support from the Global Advocacy Incubator for Health (GHAI), the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination, and in collaboration with civil society actors like the Center for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI). It calls for immediate policy action to avert the projections for 2045.
As per the International Diabetes Federation, the estimated cost of diabetes management in Pakistan was to be approximately $2640 million in 2021.
Afshar Iqbal, Director of Communications and Advocacy at PYCA, stresses the urgency for action, stating, "This staggering statistic necessitates immediate action to curb the rising diabetes prevalence."
"Under the TRANSFORM Pakistan campaign, we are urging the government to adopt best practices and enforce a mandatory limit of 2gm of iTFAs in every 100 gm of fat in all food items across Pakistan," added Afshar.
Munawar Hussain, the In-Country Coordinator for GHAI, highlights compelling evidence from countries that have successfully regulated trans-fats, suggesting that reducing iTFA consumption could help mitigate diabetes, heart diseases, stroke, and other non-communicable diseases.
"Pakistan can considerable reduce the numbers of deaths and diseases by introducing best practice policies as per WHO guidelines to cut down the consumption of iTFAs in the diet," says Hussain.
Similarly, the campaign advocates for evidence-based policy actions to lower sugar and sodium consumption, such as taxing sugary drinks and introducing front-of-pack warning labels on ultra-processed foods.
Mukhtar Ahmed, Executive Director of CPDI, draws attention to the progress made in iTFA regulations in Pakistan, noting that while regulations were implemented for items like banaspati ghee, cooking oils, and bakery goods, other commonly consumed items like chocolates, desserts, noodles, pastas, ice creams, ultra-processed foods, and street foods are not yet covered by iTFA limits.
Given the gravity of the situation, Ahmed stresses the need for swift government action to protect the people of Pakistan from the growing rates of diabetes by regulating iTFA, taxing sugary drinks, and enacting front-of-pack warning labels on all ultra-processed foods.