Dr. Muneera Ba Al-Ahmad, Director of Health Education and Administration at the MOH in Jeddah; Dr. Ayman Al Samman (to her right), Head, Primary Healthcare Center in Jeddah; Montaseer Al-Rashidy, (second right) PR consultant; Sammy Eitouny (right), GM of Fikra Advertising; with other MOH team during the launch of diabetes campaign at the Al Andalus Mall, Jeddah. JEDDAH – The Saudi Ministry of Health (MOH) has once again spearheaded a national campaign to increase awareness on diabetes, dubbed as the contemporary “silent killer” brought about by sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy food habits. Recent statistics revealed that 14.1 percent of the adult population in Saudi Arabia suffer from this disease, where some 2.8 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, and around 28 percent of those who are afflicted are within the 30-year old range. Dr. Muneera Ba Al-Ahmad, Director of Health Education and Administration at the MOH in Jeddah, underscored the importance of diabetes awareness, saying that, like any other chronic diseases, diabetes is counterproductive and lessens work productivity. Recent evidence show diabetes affects patients, employers, and society not only by reducing employment but also by contributing to work loss and health-related work limitations for those who remain employed. Diabetes can affect employment in a number of ways. First, diabetes complications may prevent working entirely or increase absenteeism for those who work. Second, productivity while at work may also be impaired. Third, individuals with diabetes may face employment discrimination. In some cases, especially because of the risk of hypoglycemia, employers may restrict access to the jobs designated as safety sensitive or discriminate against individuals with diabetes because of their concerns about low productivity. Moreover, a recent study found that diabetes had a profound negative effect on economic productivity due to early retirement, increased sick days, disability, and mortality. On Thursday, the MOH team in Jeddah launched a three-day campaign at the Al Andalus Mall, simultaneously with another one at Gernata Mall in Riyadh. The latest roadshow was a sequel to MOH “National Program for Awareness on Diabetes” that started in Riyadh a week ago at Salaam Mall. This coming Thursday, the campaign targeting malls as the place to bring closer to the people the diabetic awareness program, will be held at Al Rashid Mall in Al-Khobar and at Riyadh Gallery in Riyadh. The second phase of the mall initiative next month will be held at designated malls in Makkah, Madinah, Abha and Jazan. Program organizers said the ongoing program discovered that a sizeable number of individuals who had random blood sugar test at the MOH stall at the malls have diabetes which they only found out at that time. Under the current MOH program, Saudis are advised to visit and register at one of the the 21 diabetic centers located in key areas of the Kingdom to avail of free diabetic kit which includes glucometer, strips and syringes aside from booklet containing information about diabetes and steps to lower blood sugar levels. According to the latest MOH leaflet, hereditary plays a critical role in acquiring diabetes, noting that some 60-80 percent of those found with diabetes have Type 2 or those whose pancreas can't make enough insulin to keep the blood glucose at normal levels. These are the insulin resistant persons. Some 10 percent of Type 1 are children who have genetic defects when born.
Moreover, around 90 percent of Saudi population with diabetes are affected with Type 2 diabetes due to eating habits, low exercise, obesity and internal complications. It further revealed that around 2 percent of those with diabetes for the last 15 years become blind and around 10 percent suffer impaired vision. Data from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Atlas noted that 371 million people have diabetes globally in 2002, and the figures stand to double by 2030 if appropriate measures are not taken to address it. The report added that over 1 million of them lose limbs. Yet some 85 percent of cases can be avoided so long as appropriate care is done in the early stages. The IDF Atlas 2013 edition said that one in 10 adults in Middle East and North Africa has diabetes. Significantly, three out of the world's top 10 countries for the highest prevalence of diabetes are GCC nations – Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Taking simple measures such as improving lifestyle and regular exercise for at least 30 minutes three times a week will improve the sugar level.
