Earlier screenings required to curb diabetes worldwide

Conferences like this are important because doctors carry back knowledge to their countries, says one expert at diabetes forum in Dubai.

DUBAI // Early screening, awareness campaigns in schools and radical changes in lifestyle are vital in curbing the rise in prevalence of diabetes in the UAE and the rest of the world, doctors heard at a global conference on Saturday.

Diabetes also affects a younger population, making it difficult to manage the disease, experts warned about 260 doctors and professionals at Hidden Faces of Diabetes. Organised by the pharmaceuticals company Pfizer, the two-day summit ended on Saturday.

“There is definitely need to raise awareness of doctors, patients and adopt programmes in schools to promote a healthy lifestyle,” said Dr Iyad Ksseiry, a consultant endocrinologist and head of internal medicine at Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai.

“Diabetes doesn’t come alone, it comes with significant complications. Early detection can make a difference to the outcome.”

Late diagnosis increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, blindness and amputation.

Diabetes, heart disease and obesity top the list of non-communicable diseases in the UAE, according to the recent Arab Health congress, also held in the emirate.

About 745,000 residents across the country suffer from diabetes, according to figures published by the International Diabetes Federation last November. Of this figure, roughly 304,000 are cases where the condition has not been diagnosed.

“If you just take the number of pre-diabetics who are at risk they are destined to become diabetic if we don’t intervene early,” Dr Ksseiry said.

“We learnt in medical school that you don’t see type 2 diabetes below the age of 40, but now it’s easy to see in 20 and 17-year-olds. This is a huge problem because most diabetes complications occur after 15-20 years of diabetes. If you get diabetes young, you will suffer from complications during what should be the most productive years of your life.”

Prof Juliana C N Chan, director of the Hong Kong Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, spoke about the impact of diabetes on a young Asian population.

“Younger people will live with the disease for the next 30-50 years,” said Prof Chan.

“I quoted data from China and Hongkong where one in five people was diagnosed before the age of 40. Conferences like this are important because doctors carry back knowledge to their hometown practices, can identify patients early, treat and control risks.”

The chance of developing type 2 diabetes increases with bad eating habits, weight gain and lack of exercise.

“The numbers can be reduced but it’s painful because you will have to restrict the calories of the population and change the type of foods eaten,” said Dr Rayaz Malik, consultant physician at the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

“So a diet that is high in sugar and carbohydrates must change.”

Managing pain was a key message from Dr Malik, with diabetic neuropathy – which results in a burning sensation and numb feet and is caused by nerve damage – one of the many complications that could arise.

“It occurs in one of every five patients so a physician should know he needs to look for it,” he said.

“Physicians themselves don’t really recognise this as a major problem. But there are treatments that can reduce the pain.”