Control diabetes by adopting a healthy lifestyle, experts say

Abu Dhabi: Millions of people across the world today live with diabetes, a condition marked by high blood sugar and a number of resultant complications that have become all too common.

Last Monday, World Diabetes Day saw the release of staggering figures, including reports by the International Diabetes Federation that 366 million people worldwide currently live with the disease, up from just 285 million people two years ago. In 20 more years, these numbers will rise to approximately half a billion people (552 million).

What is perhaps even more worrying is that an estimated 90 per cent of people with the condition worldwide have Type-2 diabetes, a condition brought on mainly by an unhealthy lifestyle and weight gain.

In the UAE, the threat is particularly high. While the global average for diabetes prevalence is 8.5 per cent, as much as 19.2 per cent of the UAE population suffers from the condition, which means that the country has the second-highest comparative prevalence of diabetes in the world.

Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Mario Fetz, director of external relations at the IDF, and Dr Leonor Guariguata, IDF epidemiologist, called for concerted efforts by health professionals and individuals.

Gulf News: According to IDF reports, diabetes prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is higher than the global average, with 9.1 per cent of the population now suffering from the condition. What explains this high rate in the region?

DR FETZ and DR GUARIGUATA: Diabetes, specifically Type-2 diabetes, is intrinsically a lifestyle disease. The region has seen rapid urbanisation in the past few decades, and this has brought with it lifestyle changes which make it more difficult for people to eat right and exercise regularly. A similar trend was visible in the States from the 1950s to the 1980s.

What age groups are particularly affected by diabetes?

The majority of diabetes cases occur in people aged between 40 and 59 years. However, diabetes incidence has been growing in the Mena region for people under the age of 30 and for teenagers, which was unheard of 20 years ago.

The fifth edition of the Diabetes Atlas released by IDF on Monday stated that the number of people with diabetes in the Mena region is expected to double in less than two decades. Why is this increase in diabetes prevalence still expected despite the increasing awareness about the disease in recent years?

Urbanisation and aging populations are some of the reasons for this expected increase in prevalence. That said, it is also true that about 183 million people with the disease are still undiagnosed, including 19.2 million individuals in the Mena region, which is why we encourage people to check frequently with their physicians about their diabetes risk.

How true is it that a genetic predisposition to developing diabetes could be increasing diabetes prevalence in the Mena countries?

Unfortunately, we do not yet have enough studies to confirm such genetic predispositions. What we do know, however, is that six of the countries with the highest diabetes prevalence in the world are in the region: namely the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Lebanon. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is still the best protection against diabetes for these people.

What are the biggest complications arising from diabetes at present?

Cardiovascular, kidney and eye diseases, as well as nerve damage, are the most common complications. In addition, diabetes is the main cause for lower limb amputations around the world.

Are there any new developments in the fight against diabetes? If not, what can people do to effectively combat it?

A proper diet and regular exercise are still the real keys. People should therefore incorporate simple steps into their daily routines. For example, they can take the stairs whenever possible, get off a stop earlier when using public transport, and eat more vegetables and fruits. These are small measures, but they make a real difference in the long run.

World Congress: Dubai to host event

The latest edition of the World Diabetes Congress, the largest single gathering of diabetes experts in the world that is held every two years, will be organised in Dubai this year from December 4-8.

"More than 13,000 medical and diabetes experts are expected at the congress, and we therefore encourage all health care professionals to attend and learn more about the fight against diabetes," Dr Mario Fetz told Gulf News.