Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The 2nd Annual Diabetes Conference, co-hosted by M42’s Imperial College London Diabetes Centre and HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Centre (DEC), took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Abu Dhabi on November 9 and 10.
The event brought together prominent diabetes care professionals to discuss the latest breakthroughs in treatment, and how to leverage technology to manage diabetes and combat the growing obesity.
Designed to promote education and collaboration, the conference provided healthcare professionals with evidence-based insights, hands-on workshops, and discussions on how to enhance clinical skills and improve patient care.
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Mustafa Khan, Medical Director at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, discussed critical shortcomings in current diabetes care, notably in the MENA region, where diabetes prevalence is increasing.
He noted that the UAE has one of the highest rates of Type 2 diabetes in the world, with around 20% of the population affected.
Dr. Khan pointed out that healthcare providers encountered challenges in keeping up with innovative treatments, particularly for Type 2 diabetes and obesity.
He also stressed the need for lifestyle modifications to address these conditions.
“While new medications are critical, the real gap lies in promoting lifestyle changes-healthy eating, exercise, and awareness-both to the public and healthcare providers.”
Dr. Samina Ahmed, Family Medicine Consultant at HealthPlus Diabetes, shared her primary care perspective with Aletihad.
“Prevention is better than cure,” she said, underlining the importance of early screening in a region with a high diabetes prevalence.
She stressed the importance of raising public awareness about diabetes, saying that many patients with a strong family history of diabetes do not get examined or do follow-ups after screening.
Dr. Khan further highlighted the transformational impact of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology in diabetes treatment, citing real-time data, painless finger pricks, and precise insulin administration.
“This technology improves patient control and lifestyle, especially for those using insulin pumps, where the CGM and pump communicate in a ‘hybrid closed-loop’ system that mimics the function of a healthy pancreas.”
Dr. Ahmed noted the importance of the CGM in primary care, including its ability to provide real-time glucose readings, improve medication adherence, and provide reliable, easily interpretable data.
She added that a multidisciplinary approach, involving specialists from various fields, is crucial for effective diabetes care.
Dr. Ahmed said that the adoption of new diabetes technologies also posed challenges.
“New technologies can be costly, and healthcare systems need to justify these expenses. Engaging insurance companies is crucial to ensuring that these advancements are accessible to all patients.”
Both Dr. Khan and Dr. Ahmed stressed the need for collaboration in combating the diabetes epidemic.
“At the conference, we showed the power of collaboration-between our centres, healthcare professionals, and the pharmaceutical and tech industries. Together, we aim to improve diabetes care, promote early screening, and support better disease management,” Dr. Khan stated.
Dr. Ahmed highlighted that diabetes is a chronic disease and a major issue in the region, noting the need for enhanced prevention, screening, as well as management to improve patient care.
