Posted June 15, 2011
Kuwait is now ranked among the top five countries in the world with the highest diabetes rate. Owing to a large number of patients in the country, the Dasman Diabetes Institute was established three years ago. It now plans to launch an awareness program in collaboration with education, training, nutrition, public relations and fitness departments.
As part of this program, the Dasman Institute held a seminar titled, ‘Introduction to Diabetes, Taking Control’ on Thursday. This seminar addressed employees of the Ernst and Young Company, “We reach out to companies, schools and host seminars at our premises to increase community awareness.
Diabetes cases are on the rise globally and Kuwait is not an exception. Particularly, employees are mostly affected because they lead a sedentary lifestyle. This was the reason why a seminar was held today,” Hanan Sharaikha, a senior diabetes educator told the Kuwait Times.
A two-hour workshop was held as part of the seminar, which is an awareness program designed to help people identify the risks associated with diabetes, prevention, and measures to prevent acute, chronic complications. Demonstration sessions were held on monitoring blood glucose levels and injecting insulin.
Zahraa Rahme, one of the speakers explained about the types of diabetes, how it occurs, preventive measures, treatment of diabetes, diabetes complications, how to handle diabetes ad live with it, and others.
Modern lifestyle has given rise to many issues that deeply affect public health. The population group that falls into different age groups, perform different functions and are increasingly affected by afflictions, either simple or complicated, acute or chronic health conditions,” Rahme noted.
In the employees’ category, diabetes is more prevalent among those who are employed for long hours in sedentary jobs, consume unhealthy food and are more susceptible to obesity. It is then a necessity to know about diseases that are induced by such a stressful and sedentary lifestyle, where diabetes is one of these most important health conditions,” she added.
In response to the rise of diabetes, different awareness programs are being created for people. These have been designed by the Education and Training Department in collaboration with others like physicians, nutritionists, exercise department at the Dasman Diabetes Institute.
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