RIYADH — With one in 11 people living with diabetes worldwide, the disease is one of the largest global health emergencies of the 21st century. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is no exception, with four countries among the top 10 globally in terms of prevalence in this region. Indeed, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with 21.8% of people living with diabetes, has the highest prevalence of the disease in the MENA region. As part of its commitment to diabetes management in the region, Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Care Companies (JJDCC) recently hosted its inaugural Middle East & Africa Diabetes Summit. This gathering brought together some of the leading international and regional endocrinologists and opinion leaders to discuss the latest innovations in diabetes management and their clinical implications. "Diabetes is a serious public health concern in Saudi Arabia, with around 45% of people in the country affected by diabetes or pre-diabetes. This high prevalence is due to a lack of physical activity and weight gain which contribute to an unhealthy lifestyle," said Dr. Bassam S. Bin-Abbas, consultant in endocrinology and diabetes in the Department of Pediatrics at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. "Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is a very important element of the self-management of diabetes, in addition to having a healthy diet and exercising. Successful diabetes care requires support in changing patients' behavior and that can be achieved through educational programs lacking here. Such programs facilitate communication between patients and their care managers, allowing patients to understand their condition better, to effectively implement lifestyle changes due to that understanding and, thus, avoid complications." Cheikh Seyid, general manager Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Care Companies Middle East and Africa said, "Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Care Companies' commitment within the diabetes space is wide-reaching. This is highlighted by the essential services and latest innovations we provide through OneTouch®, our Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) brand, and Animas, our insulin delivery pumps. SMBG is an important part of diabetes education because it allows the patient to assess changes in their blood glucose levels and how medication and lifestyle choices affect them, increasing the patient's awareness of the disease and compliance with treatment. SMBG allows the patients to become empowered for change." Mohamed Adel Hosni, Director of Medical & Strategic Affairs, Middle East and Africa, Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Care Companies added, "Our commitment to diabetes care is also highlighted by our efforts to enhance medical expertise, knowledge and innovation by bringing together key opinion leaders to discuss the future of diabetes. We put the patient first, and our vision for the next few years is to invest heavily in educating healthcare professionals, patients and communities to empower diabetic patients with the sufficient knowledge to manage their disease through our integrated offerings." The latest innovations and best practices discussed during the summit and the solutions for better engagement between patients and healthcare professionals will help move from diabetes care from measurement to management. Coupled with a more patient-centric approach, this ultimately can help reduce the risk of long-term complications and improve diabetes outcomes for people in the Middle East and Africa.
