Dubai Centre makes positive stride in fight against diabetes

The Dubai Diabetes Centre has achieved a significant reduction in blood sugar levels of all its patients, said a top health official.
In 2015, the centre recorded 36,000 patient visits and achieved an average of one per cent reduction in the three-month average blood sugar levels of all patients - many of whom suffer from morbid obesity. Statistics for 2016 are yet to be released.
According to a UK prospective diabetes study, a one per cent reduction in the average three-month blood sugar levels means a 21 per cent decrease in the risk of developing any diabetes-related complications and a 14 per cent reduction in the risk of having a heart attack. It also means 12 per cent reduction in the risk of having a stroke and 37 per cent reduction in the risk of developing small blood vessel disease; this includes blood vessels of the eyes, kidney and feet.
The estimated number of people with diabetes all over the world in 2015 is 415 million and in 2040, it can reach up to 642 million. In the UAE, it is estimated one in five people are diabetic and another one in five are pre-diabetic.
Dr M Hamed Farooqi, director of the Dubai Diabetes Centre, said: "Diabetes in particular is a disease that affects almost all parts of the body and can cause serious complications if the sugar level is not well-controlled, this required specialised multidisciplinary care. At the centre, we provide international levels of care and have specialists such as nurse educators, dieticians, podiatrists, exercise therapists and retinal camera technicians. The centre has also started a paediatric endocrine clinic that comprises a paediatric endocrinologist, nurse educator and dietician specially trained to handle paediatric cases. We work with patients to ensure they are followed-up regularly so that we can keep their sugar levels in control and thus avoid or prolong complications, ensuring they lead a healthier and better quality of life."
Dr Farooqi said that of the total number of patients the centre, 76 per cent have type 2 diabetes, in which poor lifestyle choices play a considerable role. Fifty-four per cent of the patients at the centre have high cholesterol, 41 per cent are overweight or obese, and of these, 34 per cent suffer from morbid obesity. Sixty-six per cent of the patients have hypertension and 83 per cent have vitamin D deficiency and 35 per cent have renal problems, 14 per cent have neuropathy and 12 per cent have anaemia, 30 per cent of the patients have diabetes retinopathy, of which five per cent were unaware of it, while 11 per cent have hypothyroidism.
He said: "Managing patients with such high obesity and underlying complications is a challenge and statistics clearly point out that obesity is one of the major factors contributing to the prevalence of diabetes. Pre-diabetics can make simple health changes, which will actually prevent the onset of the disease or at least prolong it."

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