- President Zardari issued a message on World Diabetes Day, observed on November 14.
- About 34.5 million Pakistani adults had diabetes in 2024, with over a quarter undiagnosed.
- He called for year-round awareness campaigns in Urdu and regional languages.
- He urged affordable treatment and healthier-lifestyle policies alongside early detection and diabetes prevention.
President Asif Ali Zardari has urged Pakistanis to make diabetes prevention, healthy living and early diagnosis a priority. He called for sustained nationwide efforts to deal with the growing burden of the disease.
In this article
In his message for World Diabetes Day, he said this year's theme, "Early Action on Diabetes", underlined how timely intervention can save lives and prevent serious health complications. The message placed diabetes prevention alongside early diagnosis as the core of national action.
A Heavy Burden That Makes Diabetes Prevention Urgent
Citing the latest estimates from the International Diabetes Federation, the president said roughly 34.5 million adults in Pakistan were living with diabetes in 2024. More than a quarter of them had not been diagnosed.
He described the prevalence as alarming and said it demanded sustained measures to protect public health and well-being. Because diabetes can develop without noticeable symptoms, he urged citizens to seek professional advice on their risk factors and the right diagnostic tests.
Put simply, the figures show that millions of adults are living with the disease and that a large share of them had not been diagnosed. This is why the president linked diabetes prevention with early diagnosis and with sustained public health measures.
Let us turn awareness into everyday action,
Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan
Everyday Steps for Diabetes Prevention
President Zardari noted that many cases of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed. He pointed to a balanced diet, regular physical activity, a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco.
He advised people to cut back on sugary drinks and foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats, and to build walking, exercise and sports into daily routines. He also stressed the role of families and educational institutions in encouraging healthy habits in children from an early age.
In short, the president's list for diabetes prevention is practical. It covers a balanced diet, regular physical activity, a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco, along with less sugar and unhealthy fat and more walking, exercise and sport in daily routines.
Awareness Campaigns for Diabetes Prevention in Every Region
The president called for coordinated awareness campaigns throughout the year. He urged federal and provincial governments, healthcare professionals, educational institutions, the media and civil society organisations to work together on public education.
He said the campaigns should use Urdu and regional languages and give clear, practical guidance on preventive measures, warning signs and access to screening. They should cover Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he said. Particular attention should go to women, elderly people, low-income households and rural and remote communities.
Lady Health Workers, basic health units and community organisations could help bring reliable information and screening closer to people's homes, he added. Such coordinated work is central to diabetes prevention in every region he named.
Treatment and Policy Support
President Zardari stressed that early detection must be matched by affordable treatment and continuous medical care so the disease can be managed effectively.
He also called for public policies that encourage healthier lifestyles. These include access to nutritious and affordable food, improved school meals, safe drinking water and suitable spaces for walking and recreation, especially for women and children.
He said investment in preventive healthcare and healthier choices could significantly reduce the burden of diabetes and help build a healthier Pakistan. The message therefore pairs diabetes prevention with affordable, continuous care.
Explained: What the President's Message Means
The message has three main strands. First, it asks people to act early, in line with the theme "Early Action on Diabetes". Second, it asks governments, healthcare professionals, educational institutions, the media and civil society to run coordinated public education. Third, it asks for affordable treatment and supportive public policies so that the disease can be managed effectively.
For readers wondering what early action means in practice, the message points to three things: knowing your risk factors, taking the right diagnostic tests on professional advice, and adopting healthy habits such as those described above. Together, these steps support diabetes prevention and timely care.
Background: World Diabetes Day and the 2024 Figures
World Diabetes Day is observed annually on 14 November. This year's theme, "Early Action on Diabetes", framed President Zardari's message. In it he cited International Diabetes Federation estimates that about 34.5 million adults in Pakistan were living with diabetes in 2024, and that more than 25 per cent of them were undiagnosed.
The president called this prevalence alarming and said it required sustained measures. He said investment in preventive healthcare and healthier choices could significantly reduce the burden of diabetes. That argument sits at the heart of his appeal for diabetes prevention.
Who Is Expected to Act on Diabetes Prevention?
The president's message names several groups. Federal and provincial governments and healthcare professionals are asked to work together on public education, alongside educational institutions, the media and civil society organisations.
Families and educational institutions are also given a role in encouraging healthy habits in children from an early age. At community level, Lady Health Workers, basic health units and community organisations could help bring reliable information and screening closer to people's homes.
Individuals have a part to play too. The president urged citizens to seek professional advice on their risk factors and the right diagnostic tests, and to build walking, exercise and sports into their daily lives. Diabetes prevention, in other words, is presented as a shared responsibility rather than the work of a single institution.
Diabetes Prevention: Questions and Answers
What is the theme of this year's World Diabetes Day?
The theme is "Early Action on Diabetes", which President Zardari said highlights the importance of timely intervention in saving lives and preventing complications.
How many adults in Pakistan have diabetes?
Citing International Diabetes Federation estimates, the president said about 34.5 million adults were living with diabetes in 2024, and more than a quarter of them were undiagnosed.
How can type 2 diabetes be prevented or delayed?
The president said a balanced diet, regular physical activity, a healthy weight and avoiding tobacco can help. He also advised cutting sugary drinks and foods high in sugar and unhealthy fats.
What did President Zardari say about diabetes prevention?
He urged Pakistanis to make diabetes prevention, healthy living and early diagnosis a priority, and called for sustained nationwide efforts to deal with the growing burden of the disease.
Why is early diagnosis important?
The president said more than a quarter of adults with diabetes in Pakistan were undiagnosed and that diabetes can develop without noticeable symptoms. He urged citizens to seek professional advice on their risk factors and the right diagnostic tests, so early diagnosis works hand in hand with diabetes prevention.
Which groups should awareness campaigns focus on?
He said particular attention should go to women, elderly people, low-income households and rural and remote communities, and that campaigns should use Urdu and regional languages.
What support does the president want beyond awareness?
He called for affordable treatment and continuous medical care, and for public policies that encourage healthier lifestyles. These include access to nutritious and affordable food, improved school meals, safe drinking water and suitable spaces for walking and recreation, especially for women and children.
When is World Diabetes Day observed?
World Diabetes Day is observed annually on 14 November.
