Diabetes screen call for over-30s

Plans include free exercise facilities in public spaces to encourage people to keep in shape and reduce the spread of obesity.

A glucometer, a device used to measure the level of glucose in the blood, is demonstrated at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi.

DUBAI // Everyone over the age of 30 should be tested for diabetes, health officials said yesterday as they announced a Gulf-wide initiative to tackle one of the region's most common diseases. The new campaign, which runs until 2018, includes guidelines for patients and doctors on how to prevent and treat diabetes.

These recommend that people who have the illness be assessed every three months with checks including blood pressure, height, weight and lipids (blood fats). The guidelines also advise on annual assessments such as diet and physical activity, and urine tests. Studies have confirmed that the incidence of diabetes across the UAE is rising. In 2005 it was found to affect 19.6 per cent of the population - or almost one person in five - a figure that is expected to pass 28 per cent by 2025 in the absence of effective measures.

A number of initiatives have been launched over the past few months, including a seven-point strategy to unify efforts among the various bodies dealing with the problem in the UAE, announced by the Ministry of Health in January. At yesterday's press conference in Dubai, Humaid Mohammed Obaid al Qattami, the Minister of Health, described diabetes as one of the heaviest burdens on the state health services, adding: "It is essential to provide comprehensive health care for citizens."

He said primary prevention relied on monitoring and treatment measures, in addition to "reducing the associated risk factors". The new initiative includes plans to provide free exercise facilities to encourage physical activity and improve the lifestyle of individuals. "This new campaign is part of a Gulf strategy to fight diabetes, as the region tops the list for prevalence," said Dr Abdulrazzaq al Madani, the director of Dubai Hospital and chairman of the Emirates Diabetes Society.

"These guidelines have been written in simple terms so that everybody can have access to them and use them." Dr al Madani recommended that everybody over the age of 30 should be screened for diabetes. "Others that should also be screened are those who are considered to be obese, and those with a family history of diabetes," he said. In addition, Dr al Madani stressed the need for a patient register, which will provide data for all the necessary health authorities over the scope of diabetes in the country.

"Currently the Dubai Health Authority and the Abu Dhabi Health Authority have their own registries, but we are waiting for all the necessary bodies," he said. "Compiling this registry is not an easy task." Dr Ali bin Shakar, director-general of the Ministry of Health and president of the Supreme National Committee to Combat Diabetes, summarised the main objectives of the strategy, focusing on the areas of primary prevention, strengthening surveillance, and monitoring and evaluation.

"We seek to reduce the incidence of risk factors leading to infection and to reduce the spread of obesity by one per cent annually and increase the proportion of those who do physical activity by two per cent," he said. "The ministry is currently discussing the establishment of mini-clinics to follow up on diabetes patients in primary healthcare centres," said Dr bin Shakar. "There are also plans to distribute sports equipment in parks and public spaces, to encourage physical activity."