Renowned diabetes specialists discussed the global diabetes situation in general and in Jordan in particular as well as the latest treatments for the disease at a conference held recently in Amman.

Professor Jiten Vora, consultant endocrinologist in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, clarified the seriousness of diabetes and its spread in the short and long run, at the conference held to mark the World Diabetes Day in the InterContinental Hotel.

He introduced the new medicine Galvus, which is a new class of oral anti-diabetic agents that enhances the sensitivity of both alpha and beta cells in the islet to produce insulin and partially impede glucagon in response to high blood sugar levels thus achieving better glucose control.

The professor also explained that the new drug has a favourable side effect profile and almost no reports of severe low blood sugar levels or weight gain and that it is taken orally.

Dr Jihad Haddad, head of scientific committee of the Jordanian Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Genetics, stressed on the importance of the awareness towards diabetes, and requested the media to play a major role in this mission by introducing this chronic disease, defining its symptoms and the best ways to deal with it.

'You represent the direct contact channel between us, the doctors on the one hand, and the diabetic patients on the other; we consider you as the active partners responsible for publicizing the correct scientific and medical information,” said Dr Haddad.

“Your help in enhancing the social education of this disease in simple and clear messages shall always be appreciated,” he added.

Dr Nadim Jarrah, head of scientific committee of the Jordanian Society for the Care of Diabetes, discussed the situation of diabetes in Jordan; he seconded the Ministry of Health data indicating that there are almost more than 600,000 people suffering from diabetes, which represent 30 per cent of the population aged over 30 years.

Most targeted people are those above 40 years old, obese people, those who have diabetes diagnosed relatives, women giving birth to babies weighed more than 4 kg, patients with high blood pressure, and people having high levels of fat in the blood, he said.

The three doctors reiterated that public awareness should be raised to face this dangerous disease which inflicts death on many people, and it was classified as the main death attributing disease in the world.

They recommended that once the disease is diagnosed, all necessary measurements and precautions shall be immediately taken, in addition to following a suitable diet and regular exercise. – TradeArabia News Service