Two new procedures could provide alternative to insulin injections for diabetics

Two new day procedures will be offered to diabetics from December at King’s College London for the first time in the UAE, to reduce insulin medication dependence.

Doctors claim type two diabetic patients suitable for surgery will be offered an alternative to long term insulin injections to control their blood sugar levels.

The procedure, that is minimally invasive and can be done in a day with no need for an overnight stay, is an option for diabetics who have also adopted a healthy lifestyle.

“They are early stages, but we are hopeful this could help bring people off their diabetes medication altogether,” said medical director Dr Stuart Fraser, a vascular surgeon.

“It will give more metabolic control for patients, and has proven to be effective in the UK and America.”

Both techniques could revolutionise diabetes care in the UAE, and potentially make huge savings in the healthcare sector as surgical costs are substantially less than long term medication.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, the UAE has some of the highest diabetes rates in the world, with about one in five residents now living with the condition.

The procedure is an endoscopic surgery via the throat, to insert an intestinal sleeve, changing the way the body manages sugar and altering hormone dynamics.

A second procedure is where doctors insert a balloon into the top of the gut, heating part of the intestine. When tissue grows back it absorbs differently, changing the patient’s metabolic rate.

Both surgeries reduce the dependence of insulin, and whereas some patients will still require oral medication, the severity of the condition will be reduced so patients will no longer need full insulin.

Patient evaluations will begin in December to see if they are suitable for the treatment.

“These are both day procedures, and have not been done before in the UAE,” said Andy Phillips, formerly with Daman Insurance and now an independent medical consultant.

“Trials are ongoing and it has been FDA approved in the US and has been used effectively there.”

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

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Borussia Dortmund v Paderborn (11.30pm)

Saturday

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Werder Bremen v Schalke (6.30pm)

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Eintracht Frankfurt v Wolfsburg (6.30pm)

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RB Leipzig v Cologne (9.30pm)

Sunday

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Hoffenheim v Mainz (9pm)

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

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MIDWAY

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Rating: 3.5/5 stars

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

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Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The Bio

Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity