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Nationwide diabetes survey by October

Future policies regarding treatment and management of the disease will be based on the results of the survey, said a senior official of the Ministry of Health on Thursday after signing a memorandum of understanding with the University of Sharjah.

“We will be implementing and developing training programmes for diabetes healthcare providers as well as members of the healthcare field,” said Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Executive Director for Health Policies at the ministry and chairman of the National Diabetes Committee.

Experts said results of the survey are expected to alter the current projected ‘mall study’ figures on Diabetes Mellitus (Type 2) that claim the country has the second highest incidence of the disease in the world after the small Pacific island nation of Nauru.

The present figures that show 19-25 per cent of the UAE nationals or 1 in 4 people are diabetic are based on mall studies. Based on these figures, authorities say that 35 per cent of the UAE population is at risk of becoming diabetic in 10 years.

Estimates provided by the ministry say that 1,080 people died in 2008 due to diabetes-related problems while the direct annual spending on the disease was between Dh100 million and Dh200 million. “This will be the most accurate study to date,” said Dr Nabeel Sulaiman, Head of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the university. “A similar study was done earlier but that was only in Al Ain,” he added.

Dr Sulaiman said the survey will be population-based, targeting adults above 20 years of age. “The sampling will be done randomly either at a health centre or at home,” he said.

Participants will be required to give interviews as well as blood samples.

“The survey will also shed light on the lifestyle habits of different nationalities that may be putting them at risk of developing diabetes,” said Dr Sulaiman. The study, currently in the preparatory phase, is expected to be completed
in 18 months.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.comw

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