Dubai
The current level of awareness towards diabetes screening isn’t adequate because it doesn’t highlight the risks associated with the condition, said experts during a symposium on diabetes onThursday.
Statistics by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) peg the percentage of diabetic UAE residents – Emiratis and expatriates, at more than 20 per cent with another 18 at high risk.
Dr Angelyn Bethel, endocrinologist and deputy director of the UK-based Diabetes Trials Unit at the Churchill Hospital, spoke to Gulf News during the symposium that was attended by more than 100 key opinion leaders from the MEA (Middle East and Africa) region.
She highlighted the need for diabetes education in context of screening, understanding risks, and measures towards better diabetes management.
Dr Bethel, one of the speakers invited by symposium host Julphar, a healthcare company in Ras Al Khaimah that manufactures diabetes products, said, “Patient education is paramount. It isn’t enough to know about the risk of developing diabetes, a patient needs to understand the long-term risks associated with the condition, knowing the risks will help people understand why they should prevent diabetes.”
She stressed the importance of glucose control in mitigating the micro- and macro-vascular complications of diabetes.
She explained that the micro risks include retinopathy (damage to the retina); nephropathy (kidney disease); and neuropathy (damage to nerves that could result in amputation).
The macro risk includes coronary artery disease and stroke.
“Patients with diabetes are about two to four folds increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to patients without diabetes, even if all the cardiovascular risk factors like blood pressure and lipids are under control. Blood sugar or glucose control is critical to reduce the risk of micro-vascular complication, and in macro, there is a real, but modest benefit as well,” she said.
The diabetes care topics at the symposium also addressed evolving technologies to improve diabetes management. Speaking to Gulf News on the future approaches to diabetes management, Dr Jay S. Skyler, guest speaker, and deputy director for Clinical Research and Academic Programmes at the US-based Diabetes Research Institute (DRI), said that two evolving technologies are insulin delivery and continuous glucose monitoring devices.
“Compared to a year ago, real-time continuous glucose monitoring units are much better, more reliable and accurate. Patients are also gravitating to the new, smaller insulin pumps with touch screen functionality and the syringe-less mechanism that delivers the insulin,” he said.
