Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Leads Diabetes Awareness with Week of Activities to Support World Diabetes Day on 14 November

Globally, Someone Dies Every 10 Seconds from Diabetes-Related Conditions

SKMC Drives Public Awareness of Disease with Full Week of Events

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: To support World Diabetes Day, the Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC), managed by Cleveland Clinic, is organising an entire week of activities to raise awareness about the deadly disease and to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles.

The campaign will run from 9th November to 14th November and will feature a range of activities, including children’s activities, staff fitness programs, lectures, and culminating in a walkathon on the 14th of November.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Diabetes is among the leading causes of kidney failure and increases the risk of heart disease and strokes, with somebody dying every 10 seconds from diabetes-related conditions, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The UAE has a diabetes rate of 19 percent, among the highest in the world, according to the WHO and the International Diabetes Foundation.

Lifestyle measures including eating a healthy diet and increasing daily physical activities have been proven to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes, which affects 90 percent of diabetes sufferers around the world, according to the WHO.

SKMC’s programme of events is focused on education about the importance of keeping active and eating well, including a healthy breakfast served in the cafeteria every day, a walkathon as well as fitness classes.

Early diagnosis can be accomplished through relatively inexpensive blood testing. Treatment of diabetes involves lowering blood glucose and the levels of other known risk factors that damage blood vessels. Cessation of tobacco use is also important to avoid complications.

“By making everybody aware of what they need to do to prevent diabetes we can help to save lives and alleviate suffering. The theme this year is ‘Act today to change tomorrow’ and there is no easier, better or quicker way than through simple changes to lifestyle - eating well, daily exercise and avoiding terrible habits like smoking,” said Dr. Huda Ezzedine, Consultant and Division Head, Endocrinology and Diabetes, SKMC.

SKMC, managed by Cleveland Clinic, is part of the SEHA HealthSystem.