United Arab Emirates, Dubai, May 14, 2013: The Dubai Health Authority in partnership with Lilly, recently held a diabetes education forum for diabetics and their family members, to help them better understand the disease and its complications.

The forum, which was held at the Rashid Medical Library, was attended by large number of patients, who interacted with experts and fellow patients during the course of the one-day event.
 
Dr Jalal Nafach, consultant endocrinologist said at the Dubai Diabetes Centre said: “This is the third forum we are holding this year. This time the forum was held under the topic ‘diabetes and family.' We discussed the implications that the disease has on the family and how they can cope with it.”

Abdulla Juma, director of administration at the centre said that the forum is interactive, provides diabetics with information on how to minimize complications and maximize their quality of life He 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 essential to tackle the disease and to reduce the cost of care which mainly occurs due to complications of 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.

The centre plans to hold its next meet shortly and will discuss several topics including precautions that diabetics who fast during the Holy month of Ramadan should undertake.