Public urged to join KT, Aster diabetes event

Connecting families and empowering them to become the circle of strength for a diabetic patient is one way of managing the lifelong condition, according to experts.
With an aim of raising awareness on how families can help support people living with diabetes, Khaleej Times and experts from the Aster and Access Clinics & Pharmacies will get together for an informative session for the public on November 23 at Millennium Plaza Hotel.
Experts from Aster will shed light on the 'Circle of Strength,' which was launched on World Diabetes Day (Nov 14) to empower families to fight diabetes.
Dr Prakash S. Pania, endocrinologist consultant, Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai (Aster Jubilee Medical Complex) said: "Globally one in 11 people are currently living with diabetes."
He said the UAE ranks 15th in the world with prevalence of diabetes. "Diabetes is a silent killer and is commonly associated with obesity, hypertension and increased cholesterol levels." Diabetes is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke and blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputations.
"Believe it or not, 80 per cent of cases of Type 2 diabetes is preventable through the adoption of a healthy lifestyle," he added.
Diabetes can present with increased thirst, weight loss, tiredness and blurry vision but it can also be totally asymptomatic or without symptoms.
Lubna Abdussalam Dhalani, dietician, Aster Clinic, Bur Dubai (Aster Jubilee Medical Complex), said diabetes care goes beyond medications and treatments. "A holistic approach and a lifestyle change are much required for the diabetics who are living day to day with their illness. Diet and exercise play a very important role in achieving this holistic cure."
For patients and the families, Aster will provide an exclusive online education hub, community interventions such as reaching out to kids as well as homemakers to make them the circle of strength for the diabetic through a series of online recipe videos using prominent regional food influencers.
Free glucometers will also be offered to those who attend the event and come with diabetic prescriptions to Aster pharmacies. The event will be an opportunity for people to get an overview of the disease as a number of experts will attend and answer diabetes related queries. As of 2017, nearly 425 million people worldwide were living with diabetes. By 2045, this number is expected to rise to 629 million.  More information is available on astercircleofstrength.com
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com