Sheikh Khalifa Medical City celebrates diabetes awareness campaign from 06 -14 november 2008

The World Diabetes Day, which falls on the 14th of November, marks the primary global awareness campaign of the International Diabetes Federation and United Nations.

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 200 member associations in more than 160 countries, advocating for the more than 250 million people with diabetes, their families, and their healthcare providers. Its mission is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. The International Diabetes Federation leads the World Diabetes Day and Unite for Diabetes campaigns.

The Sheikh Khalifa Medical City has many activities planned in the Diabetes Awareness Week throughout the week from 06 - 14 November 2008.

A number of Schools' visits and presentations with the cooperation of the Abu Dhabi School Health Administration is arranged throughout the week.

Moreover, SKMC Diabetes Nurses will be conducting free Diabetes Testing, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Weight Waist - Hip Ratio at Marina Mall on the 14th of November 2008.

In addition to that, educational materials about diabetes and gifts will be distributed.

To enhance the education of healthcare providers, a workshop on "Creating Communications Bridge between Inpatient Nurses and the Diabetes Center" for SKMC Diabetes Link Nurses is organized on 06 November 2008 in the Diabetes Center Theatre and the annual "World Diabetes Day Symposium" targeted to hospital and primary care physicians, diabetes educators and senior nurses involved in diabetes care is planned on the evening of the 12th of November 2008.

The symposium and workshop are accredited for Continuous Medical Education (CME) hours and the Symposium's theme this year is "Advances in Diabetes".

Speakers will discuss the latest developments in diabetes management in adults and children The "World Diabetes Day Symposium" attracted over 150 and 200 delegates last year and the year before.

Commenting on the Diabetes Awareness Week, Dr. Scott Strong, Acting Chief Executive Officer at SKMC, stated that

"SKMC supports ongoing health promotion campaigns that raise awareness about diseases such as diabetes and plays an active role in the community promoting health education to the public. The SKMC Diabetes and Endocrinology Center clinical staff and health educators have organized several lectures and activities during the Diabetes Awareness Week, which include blood glucose testing and advice about diabetes, its complications, its treatment, and prevention. Our objective is to raise awareness of Diabetes and its complications throughout the community and encourage early diagnosis."

Dr. Mahmoud M Benbarka, Consultant Endocrinologist and Head, SKMC Diabetes and Endocrinology Center at SKMC said

"The SKMC Diabetes and Endocrinology Center's multidisciplinary program treats patients with all forms of diabetes and its related complications. It is a Center of Excellence offering unique and innovative services. The Center provides a balanced focus on patient care, education, research, and community service. We attribute our success in diabetes management to teamwork, dedication and commitment of the centers members, patients' participation, and to the fact that our approach is proactive and patient centered. Staff members of the center include Endocrinologists, primary care Physicians, Diabetes Educators, Dietitians, Podiatrist, Clinical Pharmacist, Clinical Psychologist, Diabetes Nurses, Translators and Clerical Staff. The Center receives patients on a referral only basis from other Outpatient Clinics, as well as from Primary Health Care Centers, and currently has more than 5000 patients registered."

"The Diabetes and Endocrinology Center provides comprehensive services such as patient consultations with doctors and support staff, case management and education by Diabetes Nurse Educators on a daily basis. Additionally, the Center provides dietary consultation by dietitians, podiatric services, pharmacy counseling and advice, a 96 hour Continuous Blood Glucose Monitoring program and Insulin Pump Therapy highlighting that SKMC has initiated more than 150 patients on Insulin Pump therapy since the opening of the Center" Dr. Benbarka stated.

In addition to its contribution to the regular postgraduate activities, The Center has also been very busy in providing professional educational programs to cater for the accredited CME needs of the medical community in Abu Dhabi.

Popular recent programs include "Clinical Diabetes 2007", Insulin Pump Therapy, "Practical Diabetes 2007", Diabetes and Pregnancy (Jointly with The Corniche Hospital), "Thyroid in Practice" and Clinical Management on Neuropathy".

Future programs include "Clinical Diabetes 2008" on 15th November 2008 (already fully booked) and "Clinical Endocrinology 2008" on 20th December 2008.

The center has developed a good track record for high quality educational programs.

The current research interests of the Center include studying the characteristics and risk factors for diabetes in the UAE and management of diabetes during Ramadan fasting.