According to Amir Karman Tayar, diabetologist and chair of the International Diabetes Federation for the Middle East and North Africa region, 4.6 million die of diabetes and its complications annually. The expenses for the treatment of diabetes amount to $455 billion.

“Diabetes was discovered in the MENA region some 3,500 years ago. We were pioneers in the treatment of diabetes. We all know how Ibn Sina described in his textbooks different types of diabetes, its relation to sugar, and how it might lead to gangrene,” said Tayar.

Despite this, he pointed out, there are 32.6 million people with diabetes in the MENA region, a figure expected to double within less than 20 years, while some 90.2 million people are still undiagnosed. “Notwithstanding the fact that diabetes is becoming a worldwide epidemic, it is occurring at a younger age in our region compared to other regions,” said Tayar.

He added that in 2010 five out of 10 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes were located in the MENA region, with the UAE second on the list, whereas in 2011 six countries appeared in the top 10.

Although globally China and India have the greatest numbers of diabetic people, Tayar stated that the prevalence was much higher in the Middle East, as one out of five adults has diabetes.

“There are three reasons for the dramatic increase in the region: The age of the population, the socioeconomic changes, and — the most important thing — lifestyle changes.” He stressed that low physical activity, the tendency to do sedentary activities and smoking were some of the main reasons.

According to Tayar, diabetes is more prevalent among men. Demographics and the countries’ GDP per capita also play a role in the prevalence of diabetes.

“European countries are very similar in terms of population and GDP per capita, while in the MENA region there are countries that vary dramatically in size, rich oil producing countries with a GDP as high as $3,000 per person and poorer countries with as little as $24 per person,” said Tayar.

He added that even rich countries with high healthcare expenditure in the MENA region spend much less on healthcare programs than European countries and the US, let alone on prevention programs, which Tayar stressed would help reduce expenses even more.

Half of the countries in the MENA region have a national diabetes program, yet Tayar pointed out that only three countries implemented it. In 2006 there was a political recognition of the importance of diabetes, and this year saw a UN political declaration to guarantee that governments take action against diabetes.

Education for society, the young generation and patients is essential to build public awareness as well as to reduce the impact of diabetes on people and society, said Tayar, adding that everyone should share responsibility. “The role of mosques cannot be ignored in spreading knowledge and building social awareness,” he concluded, alongside with parents, parliaments, schools, government, and patients themselves.
 
Diabetes ambassadors’ stories:

Sanofi’s “My Diabetes Story” Ambassador Group spoke during the World Diabetes Congress in Dubai from Dec. 4 to 8 of their agony, suffering, and their intentions to make a difference in diabetes awareness in their region. The group, comprised of five diabetes patients from across the Middle East, develops initiatives in their countries to help other patients, raise awareness, educate the media and the community as well as promote effective disease management and highlights the importance of leading a healthy life.

Twenty-year-old Maram Dalab, diabetes ambassador from the UAE, has had diabetes since she was eight. As it was a life-changing experience, her motto is “talk their language.”

“I turned my experience of dealing with the disease into a positive model for others,” said Maram, adding that she changed from just being a patient into a person who helps fellow sufferers. She talks to patients and their parents and shows them that they should not lose hope. “One of the first pieces of advice I heard was that diabetes is your life-long friend if you take care of it. That is what I did until I became the UAE Diabetes Ambassador,” said Dalab. She said that the bill of rights for type one diabetic children was what she and her group were trying to enforce in schools, as many children suffer discrimination in sports and not being accepted because schools do not take responsibility.

Mohammad Al-Saadi’s experience with the disease is similar to Dalab’s. He was five when he got diabetes.

“I have struggled during my adolescence, and I want to help young patients surpass the struggle,” said Al-Saadi, pointing out that schools for example do not understand the situation of young diabetes patients, not knowing how to care for them and spare them embarrassment.

“I was deprived of the right to go to the toilet when I was in school and ended up humiliated because the teacher could not bend the rules and allow me to,” said Al-Saadi, stressing raising awareness among schoolteachers is very important. Al-Saadi also pointed out that he was not really sure how to deal with his diabetes during his early years due to the lack of information, so he intends to build camps where children and teenagers will be introduced to the best ways to live with the disease.

Greta Al-Tawil had a different encounter with diabetes. She was diagnosed at an advanced age with type one, a rare condition that doctors did not know how to deal with. Yet, although she believes in the importance of education and awareness, Al-Tawil’s goal is to ensure that patients’ rights are preserved. “The laws to grant diabetic patients’ simple primary rights, like the right to medication and treatment, should be set even before we teach them how to live and manage their disease,” said Al-Tawil, adding that she was forming a society to push for a medical card, treatment and care.