The World Diabetes Day, the primary global awareness about diabetes falls today, while many awareness activities will be held in Doha following the Eid holidays.
“Many activities of the awareness campaign organised by Hamad Medical Cooperation (HMC) will be held after the Eid holidays,” said Dr Mahmoud Zirie, Head of Diabetes/Endocrine Division at Hamad General Hospital.
Patients and visitors at the HMC on November 26 will be able to get their blood sugar levels checked. Also the medical staff will explain to diabetes patients about the various self-care methods.
As part of educating the medical staff, a special lecture on the updates in diabetes management will be held at Medical Education Center on November 24. A workshop will be held on November 25 for school nurses and teachers at HMC to educate them about diabetes among children and how to deal with them.
Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) and Landmark group will launch the first ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon in Doha. The walk will start from Doha Corniche, near Sheraton hotel to bring diabetes and its complications to light.
An evening session will be held at Doha Sheraton for medical professionals and will deal at length on the issue of diabetes prevention in Qatar, Dr Zirie said.
The theme for this year is Diabetes Prevention as it is estimated that almost 15 percent of the Qatari population is diabetic. The campaign will also focus more on prevention of diabetes especially among the young population. This year the Supreme Council of Health, Qatar Diabetes Association, Primary Health Care and Weill Cornell Medical Collage in Qatar have joined hands for the awareness campaign.
“The number of people with diabetes in Qatar is increasing due to factors such as population growth, ageing, sedentary lifestyles and increasing prevalence of obesity brought about by lack of physical activity and poor diet, said Somaya Al Haidose, Director of Hamad Medical Cooperation’s Patient and Family Education Unit. According to reports, 2,618 patients have been seen by HMC diabetes educators at Hamad General Hospital from January to September this year.
Patients were counselled on facts about diabetes, including signs of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia and their management, diabetic ketoacidosis, chronic complications, how to manage diabetes during special situations.
Each year more than 3.8 million people die from diabetes-related causes, one death every 10 seconds in the world. Diabetes can lead to complications, the consequences of which can include blindness, kidney damage, and foot ulcers that can result in amputation.
The Peninsula