H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, Chairman of Dubai Health Authority and the Patron of Hamdan Medical Award, inaugurated the Fifth Emirates Diabetes and Endocrine Congress at Dubai World Trade Centre with the participation of more than 3,000 doctors, nurses, health care professionals and educators.

 

The 3-days conference is organized by the Emirates Diabetes Society, and discusses 40 studies about diabetes type1and type 2, endocrinology, diabetics’ care and the latest treatment protocols in that field of medicine.

 

In his speech during the opening ceremony, Dr. Abdul Razzaq Al Madani, Diabetes and Endocrine Consultant and President of the Emirates Diabetes Society, expressed his sincere thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his patronage of the conference and support for all medical events as a part of his keenness on exchanging world experiences with specialists from various health institutions within the country.

 

“The congress will discuss the recent developments in diabetes and the latest specialized medications used to adjust blood sugar levels alongside other hormonal drugs that have been recently introduced to the international market”, he added.

 

“The Congress will additionally address ways of avoiding disease-related complications in conjunction with surgeries, such as gastric sleeve surgeries, that enable patients to control blood sugar levels and to reduce their weight”, he said.

 

Citing a survey conducted by the International Diabetes Foundation in early 2014, Al Madani noted that “the UAE ranked 15th globally in terms of the prevalence of diabetes, but by the end of the same year, the UAE rates dropped to the 16th position. Only a few years ago, the UAE was in the 2nd position. The UAE Vision 2021 aims to reduce the prevalence of diabetes from 19% to 16% and childhood obesity from 14% to 12% by 2021”.

 

"It is our wish to have the UAE move out of the list of the top 20 countries regarding the occurrence of diabetes, and we hope to do so by increasing the levels of awareness over the next two to three years," Dr. Al Madani said.