Dubai Health Authority and Lilly hold diabetes education forum for patients

The forum, which was held at the Rashid Medical Library, was attended by hundreds of patients, who interacted with experts and fellow patients during the course of the one-day event.

Dr Ahmed Al Jebawi, consultant endocrinologist and chairperson of this initiative said: "This is the second forum we are holding this year- we intend to hold one forum every month to help patients and their families. This month we highlighted the strong link between diabetes and heart disease and the steps diabetes should take to avoid this. I believe education about diabetes and its treatment options is the cornerstone to ensure successful management of the disease. The best method to achieve this is to empower patients so that they can take the right decisions in their day-to-day life."

Dr Jebawi added that the forum is a platform where diabetics can interact with experts and fellow patients.

He said that the forum is interactive, provides diabetics with information on how to minimize complications and maximize their quality of life.

Dr Mohammed Hamed Farooqi, director of the Dubai Diabetes Centre said: "This meet is beneficial for anyone with diabetes, Type 1 or Type 2, newly diagnosed or longstanding and their family members as well. Since diabetes is mainly caused by unhealthy lifestyle and lack of exercise, patient education is key to tackling the disease, reducing the cost of care and complications which mainly occur due to uncontrolled diabetes."

Topics discussed during the forum included: blood glucose monitoring, low blood sugar, high blood sugar, diet and nutrition, exercise recommendations, caring for one's foot and eyes to avoid podiatry and renal complications, daily self-care, information about medications, dealing with long-term complications of the disease and preventative care.

Huzur Devletsah, Lilly general manager for the Near East and Gulf Region said that the Lilly diabetes map, which uses images to drive home the message about diabetes care, was used at the forum as one of the methods to educate patients.

He added: "In 1923, Lilly commercialized the first insulin and since then has been a pioneer in the field of diabetes. We believe that an informed patient can better self-manage his condition and therefore we have strongly supported the DHA diabetes educational and awareness campaign and are working hand-by-hand with them to ensure this program addresses patients' needs and helps the DHA achieve its objective of providing better diabetes care management across the Emirate of Dubai."