Diabetes costs the UAE millions in 2007

MILLIONS SPENT: The UAE currently has the second highest rate of diabetes in the world. (Getty Images)

The UAE spent $436 million (1.6 billion dirhams) on diabetes-related treatments in 2007, a huge cost which could easily be prevented, a diabetes researcher said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the launch of a diabetes awareness campaign in Dubai, Dr Prem Jagyasi, healthcare management consultant, told Arabian Business if even a tenth of this expenditure had been invested in prevention, the emirate’s high diabetes rate would decrease significantly.

The UAE currently has the second highest rate of diabetes in the world, with 19.5 percent, or one in five members of the population affected by the disease.

Jagyasi has compiled a report titled Unite for Diabetes 2007, which includes research taken from 7000 checkups in the UAE involving people from 100 different nationalities.

The research found 62% of people were above normal weight, while almost 75% of UAE nationals were above overweight.

“These are very shocking figures, it is very frustrating to see this. I know the government is trying to prevent it, but we should not expect the government to do it all. This is one of most serious diseases in the world, and it’s a silent killer, you won’t know you have it until it is established in your body and by then it’s too late," Jagyasi said.

“Both men and women are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes if they are overweight. Especially in the GCC countries, the level of physical activity is affected by the climate and a growing dependency on cars. The problem is aggravated by people consuming high-fat, high energy food which causes an abnormal increase of blood sugar,” he said.

Jagyasi said the average annual cost of treatment in 2007 was $993 for each person with diabetes, while the UAE’s expenditure on diabetes-related treatment is expected rise to $1 billion by 2025.

Jagyasi is involved in the awareness and fund-raising campaign with Jebel Ali Hospital and IBN Battuta Mall, in a bid to boost knowledge in the run-up to World Diabetes Day on November 14.

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