Early diabetes detection launched across UAE
Early detection programmes for diabetes have been launched in 10 healthcare centres across the country.
Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, announced the project yesterday in association with pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson.
“The ministry aims to activate the awareness campaign launched in March this year to reach the largest segment of society as part of its efforts to combat non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes,” said Dr Haifa Fares, the head of the ministry’s primary healthcare programme.
Dr Fares said that the priority given to combating diseases such as diabetes was included in the National Agenda 2021.
The Government has been encouraging healthy eating and lifestyle changes to reduce the number of diabetes sufferers from current levels of about 19 per cent of the population. The average global figure is 8.3 per cent, with men between 55 and 59 most at risk.
Diabetes is placing huge economic strain on health providers, governments and insurers. But with early detection, disease management and prevention, the cost can be reduced. In some cases, type 2 diabetes can even be reversed.
In February, New York University Abu Dhabi launched a search for 20,000 Emiratis for a long-term study to better understand the high rate of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Volunteers will undergo examinations and answer questions on family, work and lifestyle. “Small studies for one or two years also won’t answer the question. This is a huge, concentrated effort,” said Dr Maha Barakat, director general of the Abu Dhabi Health Authority.
“I hope the answers will be available in our lifetime, but certainly it will be available in our children’s lifetime.”