A patient awareness and support programme to help Egyptians manage diabetes and its complications was launched recently.

The programmes, which will focus on rampant diabetic eye complications, was launched by the Arab Diabetes Forum (ADF) and the Egyptian Vitreoretinal Society (EGVRS).

Dr Abbas Orabi, professor of endocrinology and diabetes, Zagazig University, said: “It is widely known that Egypt has one of the highest diabetes rates; Egypt has climbed from number nine to eight in worldwide diabetes ranking. This signals a correlated increase in health threats as a result of diabetic complications.”

“The programme will directly help over 5,000 patients manage diabetes and its complications while simultaneously raising the awareness of thousands of others.”

Dr Eman Rushdy, professor of endocrinology and diabetes at Cairo University, said: “The number of people living with diabetes in Egypt, currently at seven million, is expected to reach over 12 million by 2030. The type two diabetes no longer affects adults only, but is starting to increasingly affect children owing to poor lifestyle habits.”

“By regularly monitoring blood sugar, patients can reduce the risk of long-term eye, kidney and nerve complications by approximately 60 per cent (DCCT study in type one diabetes) and by 40 per cent for these same complications, while lowering diabetes-related deaths by 20 per cent and heart attacks by 15 per cent (UKPDS study in type two diabetes),” said Dr Ali Abd El Rahim, professor of Diabetes at Alexandria University. - TradeArabia News Service