Dallah Hospital launches diabetes awareness campaign

In cooperation with Prevention and Awareness to Live with Diabetes Program, Dallah Hospital launched a campaign under the motto "Diabetes .. My Friend" on Wednesday (May 21) at the hospital.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of prevention methods of diabetes, and provide tips and guidance for diabetics in order to help them on how to better manage their condition. The campaign will also reach out to community members with the aim to educate them on diabetes, which has become a major economic, social and health problem, as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates rank first worldwide in the number of diabetics.
"The importance of the campaign stems from the reality of the risks posed by diabetes that is expanding globally. According to the statistics of the 49th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Diabetes Studies, there are 350 million diabetics worldwide; half of them do not know they are living with diabetes. And in the other half (diabetic people that know of their condition), half of which receive medication; meaning that 25 percent of the sample is properly addressing their condition of Diabetes. In other words, only a quarter of worldwide diabetics receive treatment," says Dr. Ahmad Kharboutli, endocrinologist at Dallah Hospital.
Dr. Kharboutli pointed out that 25-30 percent of the population are diabetics, many of whom are unaware they are living with Diabetes. "The bulk of those with blood sugar levels of no more than 200, do not realize the importance of treatment, particularly because they do not show any symptoms. This particular group must be outreached and made aware of how serious their condition is, as they are likely to suffer further complications such as damages to other body organs, including the kidneys, the eyes, the nerves or the blood vessels," adds Dr. Kharboutli.