ABU DHABI // Many diabetics in the region are not following their prescribed treatments and medication, according to the head of the International Diabetes Federation.
While treatment requires lifelong courses of medication, many forget to take their pills or feel they do not need to, said Dr Petra Wilson, the organisation’s chief executive.
“It’s human nature. People don’t like to be reminded all the time that they have an illness so they don’t adhere to the medication.”
Type II diabetes is treated with non-insulin based medicine.
Dr Wilson said if a sufferer does not take their medication they will not immediately feel unwell so the effects are not felt for a long time.
If the disease is left untreated it can cause serious complications such as blindness, nerve damage, foot ulcers, limb amputation and kidney failure.
“There is a problem with adherence to medicines all over the world but this region has a significant problem,” she said. “The outcome of untreated diabetes is very severe.”
Moza Muhammed was diagnosed with diabetes 15 years ago. While her parents are also diabetic she does take her medication on a daily basis.
“I need to take medicines three times a day and sometimes I forget as I’m busy,” said the 55-year-old, an Emirati mother of six.
“It is difficult to take medication on a daily basis and I forget to take the pills with me when I leave the house. I know others like me who don’t take medication, including my cousin and relatives.
“I do feel guilty whenever I miss my medicines.”
Dr Mahmoud Ben Baraka, a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology, said it was a challenge to get diabetics to adhere to treatment because most were on multiple medicines. “Usually they have pills for the other conditions that are present with diabetes, such as high-blood pressure and cholesterol,” he said.
“In my experience, the sizeable majority of patients with diabetes that I see do take the medication regularly provided that the physician explains to them what the medication is for.”
Dr Ben Baraka said that if patients were prescribed medicines without counselling, they may not take them because they are unaware of their benefits.
He said that young people were an especially challenging group as some were rebellious and felt they did not need the treatment.
Pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim collaborated with the federation for the study IntroDIa, which launched in 2013 across 26 countries. Its latest results were published on September 15. In the UAE, 60 doctors and 700 patients took part.
The study found that more than three in four physicians agreed that conversations between the patient and physician at an early stage affected the way people with type II diabetes accepted their condition as well as with treatment adherence.
“Being diagnosed with type II diabetes is emotionally overwhelming,” said Boehringer Ingelheim’s Karim El Alaoui. “People deny it and you do see patients not following their medication or not coping with the disease.”
arizvi2@thenational.ae
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
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Manny Pacquiao
Record: 59-6-2 (38 KOs)
Age: 38
Weight: 146lbs
Height: 166cm
Reach: 170cm
Jeff Horn
Record: 16-0-1 (11 KOs)
Age: 29
Weight: 146.2lbs
Height: 175cm
Reach: 173cm
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
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