Family physician Dr. Farouq Al Zurba has launched Bahrain's first website dedicated to helping people suffering form diabetes by providing loads of information in medical jargon-free English. The site will also be available in Arabic soon, Al Zurba said.

"Unlike many other diseases, diabetes is a problem which affects almost every (body) organ and the unfortunate victims cannot go to doctors each and every time they have some problem," Al Zurba told Gulf News in an interview on Sunday.

He has been the general secretary of the Bahrain Diabetes Association for more than four years and has worked in a nationwide campaign to help create awareness among the diabetic.

"Half the battle is won if the patient is well informed. So knowledge about this disease and means to deal with it to lead a normal day to day life will help ease the related problems and sufferings to a great extent. Thus I thought of creating this website," said Al Zurba.

According to his studies, around 25 per cent of Bahrainis who are above the age of 25 are diabetic. "In fact this is a health problem common to all Gulf countries. Many do have this problem but they are not aware of it while many are potential victims due to their lifestyle and eating habits," he said.

Al Zurba has also helped organise a camp for children in which doctors informed the young participants of how to avoid becoming diabetic.