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Residents participate in World Diabetes Day activities at Safa Park

Around 500 residents participated in a "Family Activity Day" to observe World Diabetes Day at Al Safa Park here on Friday.

  • By Syed Bilal Shafi, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 13:35 November 14, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • The day helped bring about awareness amongst youngsters too.
  • Image Credit: K.K Ajub/Gulf News
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Dubai: Around 500 residents participated in a "Family Activity Day" to observe World Diabetes Day at Al Safa Park here on Friday.

Organised by the Emirates Diabetes Society, in association with Sanofi-aventis Pharmaceuticals, the event titled "Your Health Matters" aimed at raising awareness on the rising prevalence of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.

The event also aimed at educating people on the risk factors leading to the disease.

The event started off with a 1km walkathon, followed by exercise sessions led by members of Fitness First, a stay-fit institute. It also included children's activities such as face painting, live performances and a game of football.

The participants had the opportunity to get their blood pressure and glucose levels checked.

Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Abdul Razzaq Al Madani, chairman of Emirates Diabetes Society, said: "Around 280 million people around the world are suffering from diabetes and the UAE ranks as the second-highest country in the world in terms of prevalence of this disease."

Figures indicate that 20 per cent or 860,000 people in the UAE suffer from diabetes. Al Madani said: "Early diagnosis and early education are crucial to help reduce complications and save lives.

"The healthcare community, educators, parents and guardians must join forces to help people with diabetes and prevent the condition in those at risk," he added.

Elaborating on how children can avoid becoming diabetic, Dr Rima Tahhan, a specialist at Rashid Hospital, said: "Youngsters should engage themselves more in outdoor activities which require them to exert energy and must refrain from consuming junk or processed food as well as fizzy drinks."

She also said that parents should supervise the contents of their children's lunch boxes and ensure that they get healthy alternatives. Schools should organise awareness campaigns and workshops on healthy eating habits.

Preventive measures

Dr Mohammad Farghaly, head of Chronic Unit at the Dubai Department of Health and Medical Services, told Gulf News that a recent study has revealed that if people, who are likely to become diabetic, reduce 7 per cent of their weight and do 150 minutes of exercise per week, they can avert the disease.

"I think that this is a great event to raise awareness in the community," said Fatima Rodrigues, a diabetes patient. Rodrigues said in order to maintain her diet, she sometimes performed yoga and avoided having desserts.

"I hardly make desserts and when I do, I put less sugar in it. Sometimes when I consume more sweets, my vision becomes blurred and I get a headache" she said.

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