RIYADH, 13 November 2007 — Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie will lead a three-kilometer walkathon to mark the World Diabetes Day here tomorrow.

“The event is being organized by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) to create awareness against the disease,” Dr. Khaled Mirghalani, spokesman of the ministry, told Arab News.

In Jeddah, Director of Health Affairs Dr. Abul Rahman Khayyat will take part in another walkathon that will take place behind Westin Hotel in Al-Shatie district.

Activities are also planned in public places in the city, including the Aziz Mall, Heraa Mall and Al-Jamia Mall from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Some 2,000 brochures will be distributed in each mall. Nurses and technicians will be present to do free blood sugar tests and answer queries about diabetes.

Hospitals and health centers will participate in the campaign by holding lectures and distributing brochures and flyers.

The theme of this year’s campaign in the Kingdom is “Walk for 30 minutes a day.” Mirghalani said that everyone should make it a practice to walk at least 30 minutes a day. Regular exercise keeps the disease under control for diabetics and helps others remain safe from the disease.

The Ministry of Health will also coordinate with the Ministry of Education to carry out the campaign through government and international schools in the Kingdom.

On Dec. 20, 2006, the UN General Assembly passed a landmark resolution recognizing diabetes as a chronic, debilitating and costly disease. The resolution designated World Diabetes Day as a United Nations Day to be observed every year starting this year.

“The UN resolution makes World Diabetes Day stronger than ever and provides the opportunity for a significant increase in the visibility of the campaign and an increase in government and media participation on or around Nov. 14. The resolution will ensure even greater reach for awareness-raising activities throughout the world,” Mirghalani said.

“The campaign aims to raise awareness of the rising prevalence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents. Early diagnosis and early education are crucial to reducing complications and saving lives. The health care community, educators, parents and guardians must join forces to help children living with diabetes, prevent the condition in those at risk and avoid unnecessary death and disability,” Mirghalani said.

Diabetes currently affects 246 million people globally, including nearly 21 million in the United States.

“In the Kingdom, the disease had affected 37.7 percent of those who are above 65 years of age and 32 percent of those who are between 19 and 42 years,” the spokesman said.

“The growing incidence of diabetes requires everyone to take suitable measures to combat the disease and seek remedial measures to prevent the aggravating consequences of the malady,” Mirghalani said, pointing out that his ministry has chalked out a national strategy to combat and treat the disease, which leads to hypertension as well as cardiac, renal, liver and eye problems.

In 1970, diabetes affected only 2.2 percent of the population, 10 years later it doubled, and in 1990 it increased to 12.3 percent. In 2004, it reached 24 percent of the population.

“Diabetes has a unique impact on children and their families. The daily life of children is disrupted by the need to monitor blood glucose levels, take medication and balance the effect of activity and food. Diabetes can interfere with the normal developmental tasks of childhood and adolescence, which include performance in school and transition to adulthood,” said Mirghalani.

— Additional input by Lulwa Shalhoub