Pact signed to combat diabetes

As one out of every five persons living in Qatar is a diabetic, an ambitious project called “Action on Diabetes”  has been launched to tackle the condition in the country.According to the latest figures, there are over 200,000 people living with diabetes in Qatar and the country has one of the  highest prevalent rates -- 20.2% of the population -- of the “disease” in the region.Diabetes, which affects an estimated 366mn – 8.5% of the adult population worldwide -  is on the rise in Qatar and it poses a serious challenge to the health of the nation as up to 10% of the country’s total healthcare budget is being spent on diabetes care.The figure is expected to rise to 552mn by 2030 and the Middle East and North Africa is particularly affected with 11% of the adult population in the region -- nearly 33mn people -- living with diabetes.As a response to the global challenge based on new data released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), a partnership agreement was signed between the Supreme Council of Health (SCH), Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), Maersk Oil and world leader in diabetes care Novo Nordisk to deal with the “disease” at a programme in Doha on Thursday.SCH Public Health department director Dr Mohamed al-Thani, Maersk Oil managing director Lewis Affleck, QDA chairman Dr Abdulla al-Hamaq, HMC Diabetes and Endocrinology consultant Dr Sara Mohamed Darwish and Novo Nordisk Arabian Gulf and India vice-president Mads Bo Larsen signed the partnership agreement.Action on Diabetes was initiated by Maersk Oil and its aim was to support people already living with diabetes in order to manage their health better.In the coming years, Action on Diabetes partnership will implement a major programme to support the Qatari authorities in raising awareness of diabetes – highlighting its causes, symptoms and management – among people in Qatar.The partners also plan to build the knowledge and support base for public health practitioners in the country as they tackle the diabetes epidemic.The health implications of diabetes can be severe, as living with undiagnosed and uncontrolled diabetes can lead to irreversible complications such as blindness, loss of limbs, stroke, and heart disease and renal/kidney failure and even death.Financial complications are also significant as the IDF estimates that healthcare expenditure to manage diabetes and prevent its complications in Qatar was $2,269 per person in 2010.“Action on Diabetes will run in two phases with first phase in 2012, the partners will work with authorities to establish an evidence-based data resource on diabetes, design an effective programme of intervention, raise awareness of diabetes and its implications, build the knowledge and resource-base of healthcare professionals tackling diabetes in Qatar and launch a health programme for Maersk Oil staff in Qatar, which may serve as a model for wider use,” Affleck said during the agreement signing ceremony.He added that the second phase starting from 2013 onwards, “Action on Diabetes” will support the government to roll out activities on diabetes, including awareness and support for action; and share best practice examples from the work in Qatar with the global diabetes community.A newly released survey conducted by Ipsos Emirates Health on behalf of Maersk Oil and Novo Nordisk revealed that many people in Qatar were not aware they may be at risk of developing diabetes.Despite  the good awareness levels about diabetes in general, the survey identified that more education is required, as over a third of respondents are at risk of developing diabetes and many people in Qatar have a poor understanding of diabetes-related complications.“Diabetes is serious but can be avoided or managed as more than 50% of people with diabetes are not aware of their condition. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 85-95% of all diabetes cases and 80% of type 2 diabetes cases are believed to be preventable by changing diet, increasing physical activity and improving the living environment,” al-Hamaq noted.