UAE prepares for World Diabetes Day

HIGH RATES: In the UAE, diabetes prevalence stands at 19.5 per cent of the population. (Getty Images)

With World Diabetes Day set to take place on 14 November, UAE health campaigners are attempting to boost awareness of the disease.

Diabetes is widely regarded as a minor disease by the general population, but is tagged a silent killer by the medical community.

In the UAE, diabetes prevalence stands at 19.5 per cent of the population, the second highest in the world.

Advet Bhambhani, CEO, Jebel Ali Hospital told Arabian Business diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents.

“Diabetes can hit children of any age, even toddlers and infants. In such cases, early diagnosis and treatment is essential.”

Globally, every 10 seconds a person dies from diabetes-related causes while two more people develop diabetes at the same time.

Diabetes affects 246 million people worldwide and is expected to affect some 380 million by 2025.

Ibn Battuta Mall, Jebel Ali Hospital and Ex Health are partnering with Al Ain Water and Fitness First for a campaign on how to balance a sedentary lifestyle with staying healthy, to prevent the incidence of diabetes.

Marc Jones, spokesperson for Ibn Battuta Mall, said Dubai encouraged a culture that is intrinsically sedentary.

“Whether we are driving, sitting at our desks working or at school; the average Dubai resident's life lacks regular physical activity and healthy eating patterns. Due to this, the prevalence of a disease as serious as Diabetes is on the rise, even among children as young as 10-years old being diagnosed."

"By spearheading the campaign, we would like showcase small changes that can be made to daily lifestyles to improve overall well being, making physical activity and healthy eating a priority."

With the UN-focus for 2008 on diabetes in children - as per official estimates, there are close to 500,000 children worldwide under the age of 15 with type 1 diabetes.

Meanwhile, a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) study found the number of people, particularly men, smoking tobacco in the UAE has increased.

The study found 24 percent of males aged between 13 and 15, and as many as 42 percent of males aged 17, are currently smoking tobacco. The study revealed 20 percent of the UAE's total male population are smokers.

Studies have linked cigarette and tobacco smoking with the on-set of diabetes, due to the negative affect smoking has on blood circulation.

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