Experts urge bigger scope for treatment of diabetes
Three consultant endocrinologists in Dubai are backing the ‘World Diabetes Day 2021’ theme of ‘Access to Diabetes Care’
Three consultant endocrinologists - specialists who manage and treat a wide variety of hormonal disorders - in Dubai are backing up the “World Diabetes Day 2021” theme of “Access to Diabetes Care.”
Gulf Today reached out to Healthhub-al Qusais/healthhub-festival City Day Surgery Centre and Specialty Clinics’ Dr Ajith Kumar, Prime Hospital’s Dr Anil Kumar Pura Narayanaswamy, and Al Zahra Hospital’s Dr Vikram Hundia for the “World Diabetes Day” on Nov.14 (Sunday).
It has been 15 years since the yearly event has been observed in 2006, courtesy of the United Nations for the furtherance of diabetes care, prevention and cure, as rallied by the World Health Organisation and the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF).
Excluding children stricken with Juvenile Diabetes or Type 1 Diabetes whereby they are unable to produce the hormone insulin, 537 million adults, 74 million more than the 463 million recorded in 2019 are in various stages of this chronic health condition connected to how the body transforms food into energy. The global umbrella organisation of at least 230 national diabetes association from over 170 countries had projected that 24 years from now or in 2045, one in eight adults or approximately 783 million would be diabetics. In the UAE, there would be 2.2 million sufferers, by 2040.
Kumar, Narayanaswamy and Hundia were asked of their opinion on the chosen 2021 theme. While scholarly papers and discussions refer to certain types of diabetes as preventable or controllable, why is the theme regarding ease with care and treatment amidst continuing awareness programmes including cuting-edge treatment discoveries.
In the UAE, up-to-date approaches are within reach such as the Ambulatory Healthcare Services in Abu Dhabi that uses an integrated system of performance indicators and technology for diabetic patients such as the painless Sudoscan examination which shows neuropathic abnormalities and complications within three minutes. Other services are available at the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Tawam Hospital-diabetes and Endocrinology Clinic, Corniche Hospital and Al Dhafra Hospital.
For Kumar, the theme is appropriate as it is the need of the times: “It is about improving the patients’ accessibility to quality diabetes care. People with diabetes require ongoing care and support to manage their condition and avoid complications. This could help to meaningfully change the lives of more than 460 million people living with diabetes and the millions more at risk (worldwide). United, the global diabetes community has the numbers the influence and the determination to bring about meaningful change. We need to take on the challenge.”
He said public and private individuals would be able to help limit the plague by way of monetary and logistical investments: “We cannot wait any longer for the medicines, technologies, support and care to be made available to everyone with diabetes that require them. Governments need to increase fund allocation for the healthcare sector, particularly in the prevention and care.”
Hundia said healthcare should be available to all regardless of gender, wealth, beliefs, race and culture. A vital element is the provision of well-versed and trained healthcare workforce and volunteers: “Diabetes remains a highly prevalent disease with huge socio-economic impact on individuals, societies, governments and healthcare systems across the world. A significant number of patients (in both the rich and poor nations) are struggling to manage diabetes and its related complications, and the burden (it places) on the healthcare systems effectively. This is largely related to the very high prevalence of medications which are becoming increasingly costly and making access to effective treatments very challenging (and un-equitable).”
Hundia’s choice to be among the growing number of diabetologists around the world was a consequence of his orientation to the disease since being a novice: “It not only affects one’s blood sugar regulation but also affects different body organs and leaves a huge social, economic and psychosocial impact on the patients, relatives and caregivers.”