(Abu Dhabi) – The UAE today joined the international community in celebrating the World Health Day, being held this year under the theme ‘Beat Diabetes’ .
WHO is marking its annual World Health Day (7 April), which celebrates the Organization’s founding in 1948, by issuing a call for action on diabetes. In its first “Global report on diabetes”, WHO highlights the need to step up prevention and treatment of the disease.
In regards to policies, guidelines and monitoring, WHO says the UAE has in place operational policy/strategy/action plan for diabetes to reduce overweight and obesity, and to increase physical activity. WHO notes in its Diabetes country profile 2016 that the UAE implemented an evidence-based national diabetes guidelines/protocols/standards and standard criteria for referral of patients from primary care to higher level of care.
It also refers to the availability of medicines, basic technologies and procedures in the public health sector.
A diabetes and endocrinology consultant in Abu Dhabi affirmed that research studies show that lifestyle changes could reduce the incidence of diabetes by 58%, if the individual commits to walk for an average of 150 minutes per week at a rate of 30 minutes five days a week, and commits to healthy eating, staying away from obesity.
Dr. Mahmoud Ben Baraka, consultant diabetes & endocrinology at HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center in Abu Dhabi warned that the number of diabetic patients is steadily increasing with the prevalence of chronic diseases particularly obesity, heart diseases and other ailments.
Dr. Ben Baraka further added, “we have launched few diagnostic techniques at the center including a new blood sugar monitoring device, a small-sized device that the patient can stick on the shoulder and is linked to a wireless receiver that the patient carries. The device measures the patient’s blood sugar throughout the day without the need to take a blood sample. Usually, we monitor a patient’s blood sugar for two weeks, which helps us determine the blood sugar levels and identify the times when it increases r decreases. This gives the physician an integrated demonstration of the patient’s condition.”
He said, “other developments include the insulin pumps, which are used for diabetes type 1, where the pump spontaneously stops giving insulin when blood glucose levels are low.”
(Courtesy WAM)