DHA releases results of 2017 survey covering over 5,000 expatriate and Emirati families
One in two diabetic adults stay undiagnosed Dubai Health Authority releases results of 2017 survey covering more than 5,000 Emirati and expat families I A4 DHA RELEASES RESULTS OF 2017 SURVEY COVERING OVER 5,000 EXPAT AND EMIRATI FAMILIES DUBAI BY SUCHITRA BAJPAI CHAUDHARY Senior Reporter W bile 19 per cent of Emiratis and 14.6 per cent of expatriates in Dubai are diabetic, a survey revealed on Monday that one in two adults potentially remain undiagnosed. Presenting the survey results, Dr Fatheya Al Awadi, chair of Dubai Health Authority's Diabetes Committee and head of the Endocrinology Department at Dubai Hospital, said the latest survey was conducted to identify pre-diabetics and undiagnosed cases with the aim of rolling out a preventive programme. The survey found that undiagnosed diabetes cases comprise 11.3 per cent of Dubai's population while those in the pre-diabetes stage (high risk of developing diabetes) comprise 16 per cent. Among expatriates, pre-diabetes cases account for 15.5 per cent of the population. The Dubai Diabetes Survey 2017 conducted by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) covered more than 5,000 families, both Emirati and expatriate adults above the age of 18, in cooperation with the Dubai Statistics Centre. It aims at working towards the National Health Agenda goal of reducing the incidence of diabetes in the UAE to 16.4 per cent from 19.3 per cent currently. The survey conducted in 2009 and 2011 revealed that 15.2 per cent of Dubai's population was diagnosed with diabetes. Among Emiratis, diagnosed cases stood at 11.6 per cent of the population. Dr Al Awadi said "While it is imperative to provide a proper medical programme and lifestyle change to those already diagnosed with diabetes, it is even more important to stem the onset of diabetes in those who are on borderline or at high risk." On the pre-diabetes risk, Dr Al Awadi added "Those with an HbAlc [glycated haemoglobin] between 5.7 and 6.4 are pre-diabetic and it is these people we must work on with a structured programme that will involve educating and empowering them about diet, nutrition, physical exercise, importance of cutting out direct sugars and also appointing a wellness coach for them to regularly monitor their progress." In order to determine the pre-diabetics, the DHA has plans to come out with a Diabetes Risk Calculator. Dr Mohammad Hassanein, consultant endocrinologist of Dubai Hospital and member of the survey committee, explained how the calculator would work. "There are certain health parameters such as obesity, family history of diabetes, blood pressure, and insulin resistance that would account for high-risk factors. We will determine all parameters and these will be made available to Dubai residents as a smart application where they can take a test and see if they fall in the high-risk category. This calculator is yet to be a reality but once we have all the results and have validated all parameters, we will make such a thing available to people." Dr Al Awadi added that the DHA's Electronic Medical Record System was helping them collate facts and details about the health of residents. "Very soon, we will be able to create a disease registry based on these authentic figures that are validated in real time. The registry will give us exact statistics of how many diabetics, how many high risk and how many pre-diabetic cases are there and this will help us combat this challenge better." Humaid Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami, chairman of the Board and director-general of the DHA, said the DHA had adopted a responsible and committed strategy towards reduction of the incidence of diabetes, which stands at 415 million worldwide. According to the International Diabetes Federation, it is slated to affect 642 million people worldwide by 2040. Image(s) text: In order to determine all the pre-diabetics, the DHA has plans to come out with a Diabetes Risk Calculator. WHAT IS HbAlc? One of the main markers of how diabetes is being managed in an individual is the HbAlc, a measure of oloou plasma glucose. HbAlc refers to glycated haemoglobin. It develops when haemoglobin, a protein within red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body, joins with glucose in the blood, becoming 'glycated'. 5._ Measuring HbAlc gives Pik doctors a good idea of the concentration of glucose in the blood for three months. HbAlc levels in non-diabetics is between 5 to 5.5. In pre diabetics it is 5.5-6.5. Anything above that is defined as diabetes, but in confirmed diabetics an HbAlc reading below 7 indicates good blood glucose control. 15.2% of Dubal's population has diabetes Dubai Diabetes Survey 2017 The survey conducted on 5,000 residents above the age of 18 found that there has been no change in prevalence of diabetes among Emiratis living in Dubai in the last five years. The International Diabetes Federation survey conducted in 2012 also found that 19% of Emiratis have diabetes. 11.3 % Undiagnosed cases DllibMAII LA. py I nA-,C, 1%. fsrm sic FM Pre-diabetes la I .11-121 4-TES 16% 64.3% of Dubai's population is below the age of 35, putting them at low risk of diabetes 16.4 0/0 reduction in prevalence of diabetes targeted by the UAE National Strategy by 2021 from 19.3% currently.