From left, Faisal Madhakhi, Dr Mohsin Mismar, Dr Sheikha Al Anoud Al Thani, Dr Abdullah H Hamaq, Dr Mohamoud Zire and Herluf Nis Thomasen, during the launch of the Diabetes Briefing Book at the Supreme Council of Health yesterday. Salim Matramkot
DOHA: The prevalence of diabetes among Qataris has been found more or less static over the past four years, but a major segment of the Qatari population remains vulnerable to the illness with one or more risk factors, the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) has revealed.
SCH yesterday launched the first Diabetes Briefing Book that contains information about the prevalence of diabetes in Qatar and the Gulf region and the major risk factors as well as tips to prevent and manage the illness. World Diabetes Day is marked on November 14 each year.
A study conducted by the Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) jointly with the Hamad Medical Corporation in 2008 found that 16.7 percent of the Qatari population had been diagnosed with diabetes. Interestingly, the 2012 National STEPS survey on non-communicable diseases conducted by the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) found an exactly similar prevalence rate (16.7 per cent).
Based on the Qatar 2010 Population and Housing Census, there are about 283,806 who are living with diabetes. Both the surveys, however, did not include the large expatriate population in the country.
“The finding was in fact surprising, since the prevalence rate has gone as high as 24 percent in countries like the UAE. We are keen to see if our awareness campaigns have started delivering results,” said QDA Executive Director Dr Abdullah Al Hamaq, addressing a news conference yesterday.
Dr Sheikha Al Anoud Al Thani, Director of Health Promotion and Non Communicable Diseases at SCH said that the finding was reliable since the STEPS survey was conducted in line with the WHO standards and guidelines. In the survey, the SCH worked in collaboration with the Qatar Statistics Authority, Primary Health Care Corporation, Hamad Medical Corporation, Weill Cornell Medical College, Qatar Diabetes Association, Qatar Red Crescent and Qatar Center for Voluntary Activities.
“The survey has underlined the need for more preventive measures, with a major segment of the population remaining pre-diabetic, due to several risk factors,” she added.
Nearly half of the Qatari population has three out of five of the risk factors that can lead to lifestyle diseases as diabetes.
Obesity is on the rise among the Qatari population with 70 percent overweight, out of whom 41.4 percent are obese; 16.4 percent smoke, 45.9 percent are found to have low physical activity, with women as the most sedentary with 54 percent against 37 percent men.
With increasing life expectancy, the burden of diabetes in the Gulf region is expected to more than double to 9.2 million by 2030, according to data given in the Diabetes Briefing Book.
Among South Asians, Bangladeshis and Pakistanis are more prone to developing diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of diabetes, is up to 5.2 times more common among people of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin and up to 2.8 times more common among those of Indian and African Asian origin, compared to Caucasians.
The Diabetes Briefing Book was developed by the Action on Diabetes Partnership that involves the SCH, HMC, QDA, Primary Healthcare Corporation (PHCC), Maersk Oil and Novo Nordisk.
Meanwhile, PHCC organised a series of activities focusing on diabetes, its symptoms, and prevention, including a scientific symposium for students about the healthy nutrition for a diabetic and the optimal requirements for a healthy life of a diabetic.
Educational competitions were also held at Al Wakra health centre, which was attended by a number of students and teachers.
Al Rayyan health centre welcomed students from the Shafallah Centre and the Sudanese School.
They attended awareness lectures on diabetes, its symptoms, cure methods and prevention. PHCC doctors and specialists shared some very important diabetes-related advice and guidance under the slogan: “health education for prevention”
The activities will continue throughout this week, and will include field visits aiming at educating student, with the support of PHCC’s health education section of the Primary Health Care Corporation.
The Peninsula
