Dubai Health Authority lights up anti-diabetes campaign

The Dubai Health Authority has launched a diabetes awareness campaign to seriously tackle the growing prevalence of the disease

Abdullah Al Hashidi was just 17 years old when he was first diagnosed with diabetes. Now he is 23 and he says the last 6 years have been nothing less than traumatic.

"I have been admitted to the hospital several times because of diabetes and my parents can never be at peace. I really hope what happened to me doesn't happen to anyone else. That's why I'm here to create awareness," he said.

Abdullah was one among hundreds of UAE residents who gathered on Thursday to light up bulbs at Burj Park in Dubai. The light bulb circle, also known as the ‘Stay Strong’ circle aims to raise awareness about fighting diabetes. The campaign – Dubai Against Diabetes – is the first to be launched by the new Diabetes Combat and Control Committee, established by the Dubai Health Authority earlier this year in recognition of the increasing health problems associated with diabetes.

Thousands of bulbs lit up to raise awareness against diabetes - Photo by Nilanjana Gupta

Dr. Fatheya Al Awadi, Chairperson of the Diabetes Combat and Control Committee at the Dubai Health Authority said: “The Dubai Health Authority is very concerned about the prevalence of diabetes in the UAE and over the years we have expanded and focused our care towards detecting diabetes early on as well as managing the health of those with diabetes.”

According to International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) seventh diabetes atlas, almost 19% of the population in the UAE is affected by diabetes. Globally 387 million people are diabetic out of which 46.3% are undiagnosed. The numbers are set to double over the next 20 years

This year the DHA partnered with Benchmark Middle East and the pharmaceutical industry to help raise community awareness of the causes and threats associated with diabetes. The campaign highlights the difficulties that diabetics face in everyday life and provide them with the tools to improve their quality of life, even for those with advanced diabetes. The campaign also targets people with undiagnosed diabetes and urges them to make positive lifestyle changes in an attempt to prevent the progression of their condition to diabetes.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) predicts that diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death by 2030. A regular nutritional diet, daily physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight and BMI, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent, or delay the onset of diabetes.