UAE | Health
Hospital's diabetes awareness programme extended
Move meant to encourage people to manage disease and reduce number of cases, presently affecting 24% of UAE's population
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 November 27, 2009
Al Ain: Al Ain Hospital is continuing with its diabetes awareness campaign launched during November in support of World Diabetes Day with Diabetes: Education and Prevention as its theme.
Based on the latest information provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UAE ranked second in the world with the highest prevalence of diabetes — about 24 per cent.
This means that for every five adults — between the age group of 20 and 79 — one suffers from diabetes. The only other country with a higher rate is the island nation of Nauru in the Western Pacific.
George Jepson, CEO, Al Ain Hospital, said: "Al Ain Hospital together with other SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services Company) facilities throughout Abu Dhabi, supports ongoing health promotion campaigns that raise awareness about diseases such as diabetes and plays an active role in the community by promoting health education to the public."
The main objective of the diabetes awareness campaign is to identify diabetic risk factors at an early stage, which is essential in preventing the onset of the disease.
Complications of diabetes can include conditions affecting the heart, eyes, feet and kidneys.
All types
The campaign also focuses on raising awareness of the increasing prevalence of all types of diabetes within the community. This includes highlighting the risk factors associated with it too.
Patients with higher blood glucose levels than normal may have pre-diabetes and are at risk of developing the disease within five to 10 years.
Diabetes is also one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood. It can affect children at any age, including pre-school children and even toddlers.
Diabetes in children is often diagnosed late or detected up when the child has diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In some cases it is misdiagnosed completely.
Early detection
"Our objective is to raise awareness of diabetes and its complications throughout the community and encourage early diagnosis.
"Al Ain Hospital's Diabetes Centre's multi-disciplinary programme treats patients with all forms of diabetes and its related complications," Dr Talaat Al Deyab, Specialist Outpatients Services Clinical Manager, Al Ain Hospital, said.
Dr Shwab, the Medical Director at Al Ain Hospital added "Our main objective is to educate the patients and their families about diabetes and its related complications, while encouraging patients to take an active role in their own diabetes management.
"We realise that life with diabetes poses challenges for every member of the family. Whether the patient or the family member of a person with diabetes, it takes time to adapt to the day-to-day demands of the disease.
Prevent
"We emphasise that while treatment options are improving all the time, diabetes will not prevent a child or adult from living a full and active life.
"With the medical and emotional support our Diabetes Centre patients with diabetes of all ages and their families learn to cope with the demands that the disease imposes."
Check-UP
Al Ain Hospital Diabetes Centre Contact Details:
Opening hours: The Diabetes and Endocrinology Centre operates from Sunday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm.
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