New campaign to reduce high rate of diabetes in Kingdom
Doctors back call by sports chiefs for more exercise to combat ‘silent killer’ that affects 4 million adult Saudis
Saudi doctors have backed a new campaign by sports chiefs to combat diabetes, the “silent killer” that is rife in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA) is raising awareness and promoting a health program ahead of World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14. Saudi Arabia is ranked the second highest in the Middle East and seventh in the world for the rate of diabetes, related to lifestyle issues such as lack of exercise, an unhealthy diet and obesity.
More than 18 percent of Saudi adults, about 4 million people, have the disease.
“It’s a large number because of the lifestyle of people in the Kingdom,” Rawan Al-Daur, a diabetic educator at Abbott Diabetic Care in Riyadh, told Arab News.
“They should increase their physical activities, and eat healthy food at proper times, drink a lot of water and eat less sugars and unhealthy forms of carbohydrates. “It’s important to have campaigns to raise awareness about diabetes, because physical activity is one of the most important things to reduce the risk of diabetes type 2.”
The SFA has launched the “Step Together” program, challenging adults to walk or run 21 km, and children to walk or run 14 km, leading up to World Diabetes Day. “We want to see our healthy active community head out. Bring all of your family members to walk or run,” said Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, president of SFA..
The Saudi Sports for All Federation is raising awareness and promoting a health program ahead of World Diabetes Day on Nov. 14.