Diabetes is a Matter of National Concern –Expert

Diabetes has become a matter of national concern. Official figures stand at about 24% of the UAE population suffer from this controllable disease, says Dr. Abdul Razzak Madani, Endocrinologist at the Dubai Hospital. The subject regarding the extent of Diabetes in the Middle East and GCC was dealt by Dr. Madani in the National Conference on Recent Advances in Diabetes Mellitus, which was held at Gulf Medical College, Ajman, U.A.E. on the 29th of May 2003.

The conference was held in joint collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Emirates Medical Association. Nearly 200 doctors and health care professionals from allover UAE Participated in the same. Leading experts in this field delivered lectures on management and control of the disease.
During the course of the conference lifestyle and food habits as the main causes of Diabetes was highlighted. Awareness at every level is important to tackle this problem. The national committee for control of diabetes in the UAE is working towards controlling diabetes. The Ministry of Health is taking all possible measures in addressing this issue.

Experts feel that individual attention of people at all levels is needed to control the disease. They add that regular awareness programs are the need of the hour. It was felt that conferences, interaction at various levels in schools, colleges, offices, clubs, etc. would surely help in promoting the control measures. It can be prevented, but it is up to an individual to respond. Experts say that a person should care about his / her own health. Inherited, congenital problems can also be controlled. Complications of diabetes can be avoided.

Experts from various hospitals and institutions in the UAE discussed about Pathophysiology of Type II Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome X and Type II Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy, Diabetes and Cardiovascular complications, Chronic Complications of Diabetes Mellitus, Juvenile Diabetes and Lifestyle modification in Diabetes Mellitus patients, Insulin Delivery System and Gene Therapy.
The conference secretariat at GMCA is actively involved in organizing various scientific events at the college to create awareness and in addressing locally relevant issues pertaining to UAE in particular and Middle East Region in general. 15 conferences, seminars and symposia in the last two years have been organized so far and ten more have been planned for the coming year starting in October 2003. GMCA has been identified as one of the proactive centers in organizing CME / CPD programs. About the activities of the Conference Secretariat the plans are: –

1. To organize some of the future conferences in other emirates.

2. To begin with a conference in Dubai in November this year.

3. To invite other institutions and hospitals for organizing joint scientific events, in collaboration with GMCA conference secretariat.

4. To correspond with foreign universities and hospitals to organize joint CME programs in UAE. This would benefit the local medical fraternity to a great extent.

Apart from organizing such programs the conference secretariat is actively involved in holding medical camps, awareness programs at the college and GMC Hospital in Ajman.

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