HMC attends regional diabetes conference

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) participated in the 2012 Mena Regional International Diabetes Conference in Doha from December 14 to 16, organised by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). The conference, which was arranged in collaboration with the Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), was attended by many regional and international professional diabetes experts.Several specialist doctors from HMC presented their scientific research and chaired some sessions at the conference. Dr Mahmoud Zirie, HMC consultant and head of Diabetes and Endocrinology Section chaired a scientific session on the importance of hemoglobin and its scientific use. He also presented a paper on the metabolic disorders in diabetes in Arabs versus others. “Scientific research has indicated that differences in race can have a direct impact on a person’s predisposition to develop diabetes. At HMC we are currently conducting, in collaboration with Texas University, a three-year scientific comparative research study on a group of Arab and American nationals to track the liability of diabetes infection and its causes in each group” said Dr Zirie.Dr Abdelrazaq Gehani, consultant cardiologist, presented a research paper titled “Diabetes and heart disease” and Dr Mohsen al-Idrisi, consultant for diabetes and endocrinology presented a research paper titled “Facts about diabetes”, while Dr Amin Jayousi, consultant for diabetes and endocrinology, chaired some sessions of the conference.The Corporation also participated in the exhibition that went on in parallel to the scientific sessions. HMC’s stand displayed educational booklets and pamphlets on diabetes, preventive measures and how to deal with a diabetic patient, particularly the diabetic child. During the conference, further information was revealed concerning HMC’s commitment to establishing a National Diabetes Centre. The new centre, which will be located within Hamad General Hospital’s OPD building, is expected to be completed by mid 2013.The centre includes specialised diabetes treatment clinics, a special pharmacy for diabetic patients and diabetes educational units, in addition to dietetics and podiatry (foot care) services. Besides providing various diabetic accessory items such as insulin injections and glucose test strips, the centre will play an important role in supporting targeted clinical research on diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of diabetes is relatively high in Qatar and other GCC countries, and studies have indicated that all six GCC nations rank among the top 12 countries of the world, which have the highest incidence of the disease