Ministry of Health marks World Diabetes Day

This year’s World Diabetes Day marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin.
The event was held in cooperation with Servier pharmaceutical company and aimed at raising awareness of employees about the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles to prevent diabetes, encouraging early diagnosis, and highlighting health issues related to diabetes and ways of prevention.

During the event, an approved diabetes risk prediction model was used to evaluate risk factors among the participants. Nutritional consultations and body vital signs checks were also provided, leaflets were distributed and awareness videos were screened.

The event also highlighted the importance of continuous glucose monitoring and adherence to a healthy lifestyle.


Awareness platform 
Dr. Hussain Abdul Rahman Al Rand, Assistant Undersecretary for the Public Health Sector, said: "World Diabetes Day is an annual occasion the ministry is keen to make use of it to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis of diabetes to avoid complications and encourage the adoption of a healthy diet and physical activity."

"This is part of the ministry's strenuous endeavors to control NCDs so as to achieve the objectives of the National Agenda 2021 and improve the results of the national indicator of the proportion of the population with diabetes. To that end, the ministry has developed a national policy for non-communicable diseases and a national plan to fight diabetes and its complications,"
Al Rand explained that the plan aims to provide comprehensive and integrated health care in innovative and sustainable ways and activate the diabetes control program through the provision of reinforced, preventive and therapeutic services in accordance with international best practices.

Promoting healthy lifestyles 
Dr. Buthaina Ben Belila, Head of the Non-Communicable Diseases Department, pointed out that diabetes, especially type 2, is a major challenge due to its association with unhealthy 


lifestyles, however, it remains a preventable disease if we follow an active lifestyle and a balanced diet, in addition to conducting a periodic examination to detect risk factors.
She noted that the ministry strives to provide the best innovative methods for the prevention and treatment of diabetes according to the best international standards, stressing that diabetes research is at the forefront of scientific research activities in the UAE.