World Diabetes Day highlights need for action.....

Manama: The incidence of diabetes is as high as 12-18 per cent in the Middle East, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman appearing in the top ten most affected countries, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) figures indicate.

The particularly high prevalence of the disease in the Gulf has prompted the World Innovation Summit for Health (Wish) to highlight the risks to the region’s health and lifestyle on World Diabetes Day.

“We want to shine a light on this urgent and increasing health priority ahead of presenting exclusive insights at the second summit in February 2015,” Wish officials in Qatar said. “Wish is spearheaded by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) to inspire and diffuse health care innovation and best practice through a global network of high-level policymakers, academics and industry leaders. It remains closely aligned to the vision and mission of QF to unlock human potential.”

Professor Stephen Colagiuri, Wish’s Diabetes Forum Chair, will work with a leading team of experts from around the world to produce evidence-based research that can help guide policymakers and others responsible for the prevention and management of diabetes. Results, findings and recommendations from the Forum will be presented for discussion at the summit.

“World Diabetes Day offers the chance to highlight to the countries in the Middle East that it is a looming global health crisis,” Professor The Lord Darzi of Denham, Executive Chair of Wish and Director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College of London, said.

“The policy report that we will publish on diabetes in February will provide recommendations for policymakers to more effectively prevent diabetes in their countries and also ensure effective treatment for those with the illness. It is our hope that health care leaders from the region will adopt some of these recommendations for the benefit of their populations,” he said.

According to the IDF, World Diabetes Day 2014 campaign marks the first of a three-year (2014-16) focus on healthy living and diabetes. This year’s activities and materials will specifically address the topic of healthy eating and its importance both in the prevention of type 2 diabetes and the effective management of diabetes to avoid complications.

The latest estimates from the IDF Diabetes Atlas indicate there are 382 million people living with diabetes worldwide.

“By 2035, 592 million people or one person in ten will have the disease. A further 316 million people are currently at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with the number expected to increase to almost 500 million within a generation. What makes the pandemic particularly menacing is that throughout much of the world, it remains hidden. Up to half of all people with diabetes globally remain undiagnosed,” the IDF said.