Dubai: Despite a slew of diabetes health awareness campaigns, the prevalence of the disease is soaring as the globe observes World Diabetes Day today.
Type 2 diabetes is caused due to a decadent lifestyle and bad nutrition and the rate is not only climbing but it is expected to get far worse in the Middle East, with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries heading the list, according to latest data released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) this week.
One in 10 people in the Gulf States is living with it.
The number of cases is expected to increase by more than 80 per cent from 36.8 million people today to 67.9 million in 2035 making the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region one of the world’s fastest growing regions for diabetes, says IDF.
The latest research reveals that seven of the top 20 countries with prevalence of diabetes are from the Mena region with the Gulf States leading the unfortunate statistics. While Saudi Arabia takes the top spot in the region with almost 24 per cent of its population diabetic, Kuwait comes a close second with 23.1 per cent followed by Bahrain (21.9 per cent), Qatar (19.8 per cent) and the UAE stands at 19 per cent.
Commenting on the prevalence of diabetes, Dr Fathiya Al Awadhi, head of endocrinology at the Dubai Hospital said: “Realising the importance of combating this challenge, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) had included the reduction of non communicable ‘lifestyle’ diseases such as diabetes a part of its health strategy for 2012-2013. There are several steps being taken by the government such as increasing more walking and cycling paths, introducing food guidelines in school canteens, educating people about the importance of good nutrition and exercise and now there are plans to introduce labelling of food which has low or no sugar and low or no sodium so that consumers can make the right choices.”
Professor Adel Al Sayed, Regional Chair, Mena region for IDF said: “Prevention of diabetes needs work rather than just money. There are simple measures that people need to take. Healthy, wholesome food that is eaten in rural areas is not expensive and exercise such as walking or taking the stairs is easily available. It is available to everybody.”
