Ministry of Health and Community Protection

Follow-up: Iman Abdullah Al Ali

Diabetes is a chronic disease spread in societies, affecting both adults and children. It is estimated that 422 million adults were diagnosed with diabetes in the world in 2014, compared to 108 million in 1980.

The global prevalence of diabetes (age-standardized) has nearly doubled since 1980, from 4.7% to 8.5% in adults. Diabetes mellitus represents a health, social and economic challenge, as it was, according to the World Health Organization, the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths in 2019.

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted November 14 of each year as World Diabetes Day, to recognize the urgent need to follow up on multilateral efforts to improve health, and provide access to treatment and healthcare education.

The UAE is one of the countries that witnessed a rise in diabetes, and was keen to put plans and programs in place to reduce the incidence of diabetes, and was able to achieve success and reduce the incidence.

In terms of numbers, the prevalence of diabetes decreased from 18.6% to 11.8%, or 6.8%, thanks to the remarkable development of the health care system, and the support of health authorities and partners.

success story

The country’s success story in reducing the percentage was the result of many initiatives, as the UAE ranks second in the world in the registration of innovative medicines, including diabetes medicines. In addition, the strategic plan that it developed to confront the disease contributed to a decrease in infection rates by 6.8% in recent years. It has achieved many outstanding achievements in combating diabetes, as diabetes management has been integrated into many national programs, such as the National Plan 2021, the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and the National Quality of Life Strategy 2031.

Selective tax

The UAE government implemented the selective tax in the last quarter of 2017, which is an indirect tax imposed on certain goods that are harmful to health or the environment, and is referred to as “selective goods”; Including soft drinks: includes any drinks containing gas except for unflavored carbonated water. Any concentrates, powders, gels, or extracts that can be converted into soft drinks are considered soft drinks. Energy drinks: includes any drinks marketed or sold as energy drinks, which may contain stimulants or provide mental or physical stimulation, and these drinks contain a high percentage of sugars.

Awareness programmes

The Ministry of Health and Community Protection regularly organizes diabetes awareness activities to enhance health awareness of the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles to reduce the risk of diabetes, encourage early diagnosis, motivate the community to adopt preventive health behaviors, introduce health problems associated with the disease, and ways to prevent its complications, using An approved form for assessing risk factors for infection among participants, providing nutritional advice and checking vital signs of the body, as well as distributing leaflets, displaying educational videos, and educating employees on the importance of permanent monitoring of blood sugar, and the need to adhere to a healthy lifestyle.

The Ministry seeks to combat noncommunicable diseases, to achieve the goals of the national plan, and to improve the results of the national index to reduce the prevalence of diabetes, by setting a national policy for noncommunicable diseases, in conjunction with developing a national plan to combat diabetes and its complications, and includes providing comprehensive and integrated care in innovative and sustainable ways, And the optimal activation of the diabetes control program, through promotional, preventive and curative services in accordance with the best international practices.

Advanced services

The Emirates Health Services Corporation is working to provide advanced services for diabetics in its hospitals and centers, including the success of the medical team at “Al Qasimi Hospital for Women, Maternity and Children” in installing the latest insulin pump for a type 1 diabetic patient with the “MinimedTM 780G” system for the first time in the UAE, In a pioneering achievement in the world of modern medical technologies, and by using algorithms to improve patients’ sugar levels. The pump acts as a substitute for the normal pancreas by creating a more accurate balance between insulin and glucose doses. It also helps prevent cases of low blood sugar, which facilitates coexistence with the disease, and improves the quality of life for patients.

The MinimedTM 780G self-adjusting basal insulin pump with automatic dose correction system offers many advanced features and unique benefits, as it operates in a closed loop system, by working together with the pump and sensor, to provide glucose control, to automatically adjust the dose that is injected. The system also provides safety from low blood sugar, especially during sleep, thus avoiding potential health consequences.

innovative services

Health institutions in the country are working to attract the latest treatment solutions for patients and provide a medical technical environment and a strong infrastructure for health services, within the framework of the institutions’ strategy to provide sustainable, integrated, available, effective, innovative and high-quality health services that keep pace with the UAE vision and international standards, and to enhance the country’s leadership and endeavor Permanent to provide the latest medical innovations to patients.

Specialist center

The Dubai Health Authority has a strong multifaceted strategy that includes all aspects of diabetes prevention, using artificial intelligence technology and telemedicine, to manage and prevent type 2 diabetes, due to obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. All primary health care centers are working to ensure prevention, early treatment, specialist referrals and timely care. The authority has also established adult and pediatric endocrinology units at Dubai Hospital, and a specialized diabetes center in Dubai, providing the highest quality multidisciplinary diabetes care.

World Health Organization

According to the World Health Organization, diabetes is widespread in both sexes in the member countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Its prevalence in these countries ranges from 3.5% to 30%. And by 2025, it is expected that the number of infected people will more than double in the regions of Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and Southeast Asia of the World Health Organization. In addition, many countries in the Region are now reporting the onset of type 2 diabetes, increasingly at a young age. This is due to increasingly sedentary lifestyles and obesity. Hypertension and cardiovascular diseases are also on the rise.