By Our Reporter
The two-day-long 5th Biannual Congress of the South Asian Federation of Endocrine Societies (SAFES) took place in Kathmandu successfully. The Congress, after the inaugural session on Friday, 17 March, held a press conference.
Keeping body weight under control is essential to overcome thyroid and diabetes issues, which have practically reached pandemic proportions due to their connection to obesity, health experts said.
Diabetes is more prevalent in nations like Nepal due to an increase in obesity cases, said Dr Satyen Rajbhandari, a diabetologist from the UK and founder of Health Exchange Nepal.
He suggested losing weight before the disease manifests.
Dr Abbas Raja, president, the International Endocrine Society, counselled patients with diabetes to take immediate action to prevent further complications.
Dr Dina Shrestha, chair of SAFES, advised that the typical eating patterns of Nepalese people living in the Tarai and Hills render them susceptible to diabetes.
East Asians and South Asians have smaller pancreases than Europeans, said Indian endocrinologist Sanjaya Kalra, making them more susceptible to developing diabetes. Less insulin is produced when the pancreas is smaller, which increases a person’s susceptibility to diabetes. This explains why a lot more South Asians contract the illness than Europeans do, he added.
Dr Robert Boulton-Jones of the UK stated that people should refer to diabetes as “sugar cancer” to inspire them to take preventative measures. He informed that the disease has become as dangerous as cancer.
Chief guest Ambica Shrestha, inaugurating the SAFES Congress, said that she expected the conference would be effective in producing ideas that will help ordinary Nepalis and those trying to reduce diseases like diabetes.
Around 200 participants from the UK, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Pakistan and Nepal took part in the Congress held in Kathmandu.
Noted artist Hari Bansha Acharya said that diabetes could lead to serious health issues in people. He expressed his extended thanks to the Health Exchange Nepal and Diabetes Nepal for releasing Madhumeha 2, a documentary in which he acted and served as director.
The documentary, a follow-up to Madhumeha, which was produced 13 years ago, had its debut at the inauguration.
Kailash Pradhan, general secretary of Diabetes Nepal, delivering his welcome address, said that the two-day conference brought together top experts and medical professionals to discuss current health issues, cutting-edge research, and effective strategies for treating diabetes, its complications, the growing obesity epidemic, the thyroid, and other hormone-related diseases.
President of Diabetes Nepal Roshan Krishna Nyancho anticipated having significant positive effects on health.
On the occasion, a lifetime achievement award was presented to the Nepal Diabetes Society.
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