Sidra Medicine, a member of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, will mark World Diabetes Day tomorrow, November 14, with patient-focused activities designed to educate and empower the community.
Sidra Medicine is currently treating about 1,200 children and undertaking a three-year project to better understand the mechanisms of diabetes in each child being treated.
This reflects the hospital’s approach of personalised medicine by integrating clinical medicine with translational research, designed to produce meaningful health outcomes in the treatment and diagnosis of diabetes.
Prof Khalid Hussain, division chief of endocrinology and programme director of research in Children’s services at Sidra Medicine, said: “Our approach to care is comprised of educators, dieticians, researchers and clinicians who are supported by access to the latest technology and medical research.”
“We are currently embarking on a collaborative research programme to help understand the underlying genetic and biochemical mechanisms of diabetes in every child in with diabetes in Qatar,” he said. “We are well on our way to developing a multidisciplinary approach for our patients with diabetes, and a multidisciplinary team to care for every child.”
From 8am to 3pm tomorrow, families visiting the Outpatient Clinic (OPC) can take part in a variety of fun and educational activities to learn more about diabetes, how to manage risks, and how to lead a healthier lifestyle.
Specialist doctors and nurses will be on hand to answer questions and provide advice on managing the condition in children.
On Wednesday, November 15, an educational session will address the importance of early screening for gestational diabetes, which develops during pregnancy, and how to manage the condition during pregnancy.
The talk delivered by Sidra experts will focus on advice and guidance for women at risk or already diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Patients and families can visit the information table at the OPC (Level 4), from 8am to 2.30pm.
The education session takes place at the OPC (Level 5, C5-401 A&B) from 12 to 1.30pm on the same day.
The International Diabetes Federation estimates that Qatar will be one of the countries with the highest growth in diabetes between 2013-2035.
Studies have shown that children are at increasing risk of developing the disease, while gestational diabetes is estimated to occur in about 25% of all pregnancies in Qatar.
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