Let’s walk together to beat diabetes
Dubai residents showed up in numbers yet again for a good cause, this time for the 8th ‘Beat Diabetes Walk’ in the city.
Thousands of people gathered in Dubai’s Zabeel Park on Friday, coming together to support those who suffer from diabetes and educate the local community about the condition.
The International Diabetes Foundation says 415 million people around the world are diabetic, with over one million diagnosed — and an estimated 387,000 undiagnosed — cases in the UAE alone.
Without proper treatment, diabetes can go on to affect the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves and teeth, and patients have a higher than average risk of developing infections, eventually suffering from cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure, and even amputation of limbs in some cases.
“Diabetes is one of the priority areas of national concern, and we believe… we have a contributory role to play in helping to better manage this lifestyle condition,” noted Nisha Jagtiani, executive director of Landmark Group, which organised the event.
“We have so far engaged with 35,000 people via the walk, and encouraged more than 250,000 people to undergo blood glucose testing for diabetes,” Jagtiani added.
Besides the walk, which took participants 3.8km on two laps through Zabeel Park — the event also saw number of fun activities, from bubble soccer, yoga, archery and throw-ball to a photo booth and Kids Zone featuring a rodeo bull, climbing wall and bouncy castles.
Additionally, the Dubai Sports Council organised the first ever “senior run” in the Gulf region, and educational activities also featured prominently in the day’s events, including a talk about diabetes awareness conducted by Dubai Health Authority officials.
The most important message of the day, of course, was to be aware. Take a test soon, and know how healthy — or unhealthy — your dietary habits are. Nothing is more important than your health.