Dubai: As far as life-altering experiences go, having diabetes is right up there due to the fact schools and teachers, friends and often even parents of patients lack awareness on a disease that demands a disciplined lifestyle.
Mariam, 15, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was five. She and her parents received an education in what this insulin disorder is, having never heard of it before.
"I was tired, thirsty, I would go to the washroom all the time — my parents noticed and took me to the doctors where I was diagnosed," she said on Wednesday night, as a ‘My Diabetes Story' panellist.
Reward
Hosted by Sanofi-Aventis, the panel discussion was held to highlight how a disease such as diabetes affects patients in their day to day lives, but how ‘normal' their lives can also be.
The pharmaceutical company also launched a Media Awards Programme to recognise and reward journalists who successfully bring to life inspirational stories of diabetics.
Diabetes affects 26 million people in the Middle East and drastically changes the lives of each and every one of them, said Dr Abdul Razzaq Madani, consultant endocrinologist and head of Emirates Diabetes Society.
"Most people struggle to face the reality of the disease and in doing so don't realise that when uncontrolled diabetes can have severe complications," he said.
Type 1 diabetes results from beta-cell destruction and consequently patients needs to inject insulin to survive.
Type 2 diabetes results from progressive insulin secretory defect. Cells gradually lose sensitivity to the effect of insulin. This disease is increasingly diagnosed in children and adolescents and is largely explained by the increasing prevalence of obesity.
Lack of awareness and understanding are the main reasons for the region's ‘spiralling' health status, said Dr Madani.
‘Alarm bell'
Other panellists included Gulf News videographer Mohammad N. Al Khan, 31, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four months ago.
As the face of Gulf News' Cut the Fat anti-obesity campaign, he said he discovered he had diabetes while doing research for the campaign.
"Discovering I am diabetic at 31 was an alarm bell going off in my head. I wasn't prepared to think that now I have to take medication for the rest of my life," he said. "I started the campaign at a low point."
To complement the medication however, Al Khan, has changed his diet, taken up mixed martial arts, and already lost 14kg.
Media awards
The Sanofi-Aventis My Diabetes Story media award is open to all Arabic and English journalists in the region who have written and published an original story, audio or video broadcast related to diabetes. The submissions will be evaluated based on research, impact, educational value, scientific and general accuracy, and style.
To sign up visit www.mydiabetes-story.com
The awards will run twice a year. The deadline for submissions is June 2011. Prizes for print and online are $5,000 for first prize, $3,000 for second prize and $2,000 for third prize. Television and radio categories can both win $5,000.
Sporting event
A sporting event for diabetic and non-diabetic children will be held on April 6 at Safa Park to raise awareness about diabetes from 9.30am to 1pm. Contact Sanofi Aventis for more information 04 4299236.
A sporting event for diabetic and non-diabetic children will be held on April 6 at Safa Park to raise awareness about diabetes from 9.30am to 1pm. Contact Sanofi Aventis for more information 04 4299236
