Sharjah: Health care workers were advised yesterday to consider the psychological effects among diabetic patients, after a recent study indicated a direct correlation between diabetes and a person's state of mind.

"The less control diabetic patients have over their body, means that they will also have less control over their mind. Some psychological effects that were commonly found in diabetics were the feelings of anxiousness, depression, and sometimes despair," said Dr Jasem Al Marzouqi, chairperson of the Emirates Psychology Association and member of Friends For Diabetes Society in Sharjah.

He said it is important to consider the psychological aspect in the treatment of diabetic patients. Blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol are all factors that can alter a person's mind, he said.

The recently-published study was carried out by Dr Al Marzouqi among 130 diabetic patients.

"Health care workers should try to relieve as much stress as they can from their patients in order to ensure that their body and mind can cope with the diabetes efficiently," he said.

The studies also showed that psychological reactions play an important role in multiplying the symptoms of diabetes, in addition to the deterioration of the patient's medical condition.

"This will make the patients develop negative feelings about themselves because they have to adapt to the disease, either by adopting a healthier lifestyle or by injecting insulin," said Dr Al Marzouqi.

The UAE has the second highest percentage of diabetic patients to population in the world, after the US. A survey conducted by the World Health Organisation and the Ministry of Health in 2000 on adults aged between 20 and 79, showed that the percentage of Type two diabetes is 20 per cent of the UAE population, and it was 25 per cent among national citizens.

How to donate

Friends for Diabetes account: 0034585679004 Sharjah Islamic Bank