A group of doctors from Qatar Petroleum (QP) has gained valuable skills to help prevent the spread of diabetes through wise lifestyle choices and assist employees who already have the condition.
Twenty-five QP physicians attended the one-day Diabetes Care Workshop in Doha run by Action on Diabetes as part of its mission to raise awareness and educate healthcare professionals.
An estimated 16% of the Qatari population is affected by diabetes and more than half have three or more risk factors that can lead to the condition. The workshop was run by two senior consultant endocrinologists from Hamad Medical Corporation, Dr Mohsin el-Edrisi and Dr Ibrahim Treki, and discussed topics ranging from oral glucose-lowering and insulin therapies to hyperglycemic emergencies and standards of diabetes care.
The Diabetes Care Workshop was the third consecutive workshop run for QP by Action on Diabetes. Advanced workshops and follow-up sessions are planned for the near future.  
Dr Khalid al-Badr, assistant manager of QP Medical Services, said: “We all have a role to play in preventing diabetes from increasing further in Qatar and giving the best possible care to those with the condition. At Qatar Petroleum, we encourage our employees to lead a healthy lifestyle to boost their productivity and prevent diabetes. The diabetes care workshops are always popular among our physicians and we look forward to working with Action on Diabetes to deliver many more.”
The interactive workshop for QP physicians is part of the Action on Diabetes education programme, which also includes support for physician training at PHCC and the Diabetes Educator Programme co-ordinated by Michener Institute for Applied Health Science.
Dr el-Edrisi said: “As one of the country’s larger employers, I am delighted that Qatar Petroleum is committed to education and awareness of diabetes at a time when it is a huge challenge for all of us. I commend the QP physicians who joined the Diabetes Care Workshop for their commitment to preventing diabetes and managing care for employees with the condition.”