This review article is aimed at describing the primary healthcare system of Pakistan and its challenges
in the face of epidemic of type 2 diabetes, focusing particularly on the middle-aged population
of rural area of Pakistan. The main concern in Pakistan is that its middle-aged population is
facing the onslaught of obesity and overweight due to lack of physical activity. In addition unhealthy
eating habits making it more difficult for this population to control their weight. All these factors
are contributing to a high risk of type 2 diabetes for the population of Pakistan. This article
provides insight into the primary health care system of Pakistan and highlights its deficiencies by
identifying that its primary healthcare system has a poor utilization of health care services, the
poor accessibility to health system and poor management of diabetes by the healthcare system,
gender disparity and inequity in the health care system. The primary objective of this study is to
provide an overview of self-management of diabetes among the middle-aged population of Pakistan
and to identify the overall deficiencies in the primary healthcare system, its delivery and
access to the system, barriers to self-management of diabetes and quality of life in that region.