One-fourth of pregnant mothers diabetic patients

Sumaiya, a 35-year-old woman, got pregnant for the second time. During the 27-week of her pregnancy, it was known that she suffers from diabetes. After being affected by the diabetes, Sumaiya and her husband Ansar became very much worried.

Since then, Sumaiya started following the advices of her physician and later gave birth to a girl child within the stipulated time. But, she experienced some physical problems including increasing of diabetes during the delivery. As a result, her physical condition deteriorated extremely.

However, both the mother and child returned home safely due to the great efforts of the doctors.

But like Sumaiya, the physical condition of all others is not the same. The 33-year-old Rabeya is such an example. It was learnt within two-week of her conceive that Rabeya, who is going to be a mother for the first time, suffers from diabetes. Despite following the advice of the doctor for two weeks, she had to get admitted to a private hospital immediately when her physical condition deteriorated suddenly. And her abortion was performed soon after her admission to the hospital.

According to sources, the number of diabetic patients in the country are nearly one crore, while another one crore people remain at high risk. Among the pregnant mothers, one in every four suffers from diabetes.

Head of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital Endocrinology Department Professor Dr Imtiaz Mahbub said indisciplined and uncontrolled life is the main reason of diabetes. A massive mass awareness will have to be built up so that this silent deadly disease does not develop in the body.

He said every person, especially from the childhood, will have to take adequate food. And for this, educational institutions and parents could play an important role to make the new generations aware to this end.

Dr Mahbub said nearly 80 percent people of the country are not conscious about the disease. So mass awareness will have to be created in this regard.

Medicine specialist Dr Sohelur Rahman said importance will have to be given to education on diabetes to properly control of the disease and lessen the long-term risk of the patients.

This education programme will help accelerate the healthcare services further, he said, adding that necessary education must be given to the patients to fight a long-term and all the time deadly disease like diabetes.

Dr Sohelur said it is possible to save 80 percent of people from Type 2 diabetes if they could be provided education on relevant issues and encouraged in leading a proper and ideal life. It could be the best method to prevent the disease, he remarked.

It is not possible for the government alone to ensure medicare services for such huge number of patients and for this, the people will have to be more aware.

Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Professor Dr Kanak Kanti Barua inaugurated the "Diabetic Patient Education Programme" for the diabetic patients on October 12 last.

This education programme, which was launched at the room No. 509 on the fifth floor of No. 1 building of the outdoor of the BSMMU Hospital, will continue from 12 noon to 1pm on every Saturday.

However, the people will get this service every day except the weekly and public holidays in future, hospital authorities said, adding the programme will be run by their Endocrinology Department.