Dubai: The number of diabetics in the UAE is growing faster than projected and already affects a quarter of the population — 14 years earlier than expected — a senior diabetologist said.
He said the fast pace of the silent killer in the UAE is despite huge efforts to stop it and that 1,000 people die every year due to diabetes and its complications.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) a quarter of the UAE population (about 1.64 million) was expected to become diabetic by 2025, but that has already occurred now, said Dr Abdul Razzak Al Madani, president of the Emirates Diabetes Society.
Great risk
He said not only was this large section of the population diabetic but that there is another 20 per cent of the population which is at great risk of developing the disease.
"Diabetes is growing faster in the Gulf than in other parts of the world," he told a meeting of doctors, pharmaceutical executives and healthcare companies.
Dr Al Madani said the cost of treating diabetics in the country was huge and at present stands at Dh2.4 billion, but this figure is expected to grow to Dh5.4 billion in nine years' time.
The condition, which affects Emiratis and expatriates equally, is growing because people are still not making lifestyle changes, he said. The diabetologist said that according to figures, only 20 per cent of diabetics are in control of their blood sugar levels.
He said many Emiratis are genetically prone to become diabetic but that poor lifestyle is also affecting the whole population.
"Many of these people know what to do but need a helping hand to make the changes [in their lifestyles]," he said.
Awareness
The meeting on Wednesday night brought together organisations and professionals to help patients with the condition better manage their symptoms. Jan Felton, managing director of Modern Pharmaceutical Company, said to bring about a change in society would be very difficult but that this was the first coordinated effort by the private industry to help doctors bring about awareness of the dangers of diabetes.
The group's website www.decidecommunity.com provides support to diabetics in English, Arabic and Hindi.
