In collaboration with Qatar Diabetes Association

Executive Director of Qatar Diabetes Association –Qatar Foundation: number of people living with diabetes around the world is expected to rise to 642 million by 2040

Doha, Qatar, 19 November 2016:  Dr. Abdulla Al Hamaq, Executive Director of Qatar Diabetes Association–Qatar Foundation opens today in Doha the Second Annual Arab Diabetes Medical Congress in collaboration with the Qatar Diabetes Association, supported by Rashid Centre for Diabetes and Research, the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association, Saudi Pharmaceutical Society and organized by Maarefah Management.

“Recent figures from the seventh edition of the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) Diabetes Atlas indicate that the number of people living with diabetes around the world is expected to rise from 415 million in 2015 to 642 million by 2040. A sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits and low levels of awareness are noted as key contributors to the rapid incidence of type 2 diabetes in Middle East and North Africa.” said Dr. Abdulla Al Hamaq, Executive Director of Qatar Diabetes Association –Qatar Foundation.

“It is gratifying to note that the agenda of the conference covers a wide range of a very interesting topics relating to Diabetes. It is an opportune time to join in an action-oriented effort to tackle and solve the problems of diabetes and improving the knowledge about diabetes, its management, and prevention by sharing the latest, up-to-date information.” added Dr. Abdulla Al Hamaq.

Dr. Doaa Said, Managing Director, Maarefah Management, said “This annual congress aims to support endeavors to fight the disease regionally. The Congress includes a number of scientific lectures that are discussing the development of the disease treatment and prevention. Furthermore, case studies, panel sessions, and workshops are provided in order to allow for the exchange of ideas and knowledge among policy makers and regional experts. Hence, the congress contributes to the improvement of healthcare providers and develop the skills of the expertise in the field.”

The Congress focuses this year on a number of important topics related to diabetes, through scientific lectures, workshops, panel sessions that are discussing up to date information and strategies for prevention and control of disease, detection and prevention of Type 2 diabetes, early intervention in children and adults patients, the latest developments about management of fat levels disorder in blood in patients with diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents, among other important topics in order to limit the spread of the disease regionally.

“There is a massive necessity to fight this disease on the regional level in the forthcoming years and to grant the availability of a proper medical care for patients that can overcome the dangerous complications of the disease which affect most body functions. It is also necessary to enhance qualified medical professionals and provide them with the latest global developments about the disease, particularly research conducted in various parts of the world, with the need to raise awareness, especially educating families on ways to protect children from diabetes and deter from eating the types of food which do not contain any nutritional value.” added Dr. Doaa.

More than 20 regional speakers are participating this year including Dr. Abdullah Al Hamaq, Executive Director, Qatar Diabetes Association, Qatar, Dr. Mahmoud Zirie, Senior Consultant and Head of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar, Kamil M. Salamah, General Secretary, Saudi Diabetes & Endocrine Association, KSA, Moataz Basha, Director of Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar, Dabia Al Muhannadi, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Lead of Adult Insulin Pump Program, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar, Mohammed Zubair, Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine University of Tabuk, KSA.