UAE | Health
Centre to raise awareness about diabetes opens
Facility dedicated to children and teens will provide free information and support services.
- By Nina Muslim, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:01 November 12, 2008
Dubai: A one-stop diabetes education and monitoring centre dedicated to children and teens opened its doors to patients on Tuesday, the first of its kind in the UAE, in an effort to tackle the nation's rising diabetes rate.
The Juvenile Diabetes Education Centre, set up by the Emirates Diabetes Society (EMS) and Johnson and Johnson Corporate Trust in Dubai Healthcare City, provides free information and support services for children with Type I diabetes between the ages of 4 and 18, their parents, teachers, and school and community nurses. The services include an electronic blood sugar level link to the centre, and nutritional and treatment advice. Type I diabetes is a congenital metabolic condition, which requires daily injections of insulin.
Dr Abdul Razak Al Madani, president of the EMS, told Gulf News the centre would help empower patients and their care-givers to take more control of their disease. "Our goal is to achieve success through good blood sugar control. However, we don't give medicine or interfere with another doctor's treatment unless it's an emergency," he said.
"The education will touch on all aspects: insulin, injection sites, diet, physical activity and what to do on sick days," added Khalid Fadhli, director of the centre.
Patients will also get advice on how to interpret their blood sugar level results, which is automatically transmitted through their mobiles to the centre's server. Knowing all the information will help diabetics to manage their condition better and faster than waiting for medical intervention. This translates to fewer medical problems in the long run. Fadhli said the centre would also provide social support services to the patients and their parents.
Almost 20 per cent of the UAE population is estimated to have diabetes, of which 10 per cent are Type I. The UAE has the second highest prevalence rate in the world, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
Latest news
- Sharjah boy tops Indian board's class 12 exams
- Dubai number plates auction raises Dh27m
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Smart e-Gate system launched
- Cyber infidelity creeping out of virtual domain
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
