1 IN 3 AT RISK OF DIABETES OR PREDIABETES IN UAE BY 2020

DUBAI, Dec 8 (Bernama) -- One in three United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents
could have diabetes or prediabetes by the end of the decade, according to a new
study.

It estimates that 32 per cent of the country's adult population, including
both UAE nationals and expatriates, may have diabetes or prediabetes by 2020 at
a cost of US$8.52 billion over the next decade if current trends continue.

The report, "Diabetes in the United Arab Emirates: Crisis or Opportunity",
was prepared by international health and well-being company, UnitedHealth Group.

It was released Tuesday at the World Health Care Congress Middle East in
Abu Dhabi.

UnitedHealth Group executive vice-president, Simon Stevens, said these new
estimates highlighted the urgent need for further action to stem the oncoming
"tidal wave" of diabetes-related illness and related costs in this Gulf nation.


On a positive note, he said curbing this epidemic was possible, since type
2 diabetes was largely preventable.

"The way forward begins with building on some of the innovative ideas now
being tested in the UAE and bringing them to scale, informed by interventions
and programmes that have been shown to work in other countries facing similar
challenges," he added.

Currently in the UAE, it is estimated that the vast majority of cases of
prediabetes and about 35 per cent of cases of diabetes remain undiagnosed.

If left uncontrolled, type 2 diabetes can lead to severe complications,
such as heart and kidney disease, nerve damage, blindness and limb amputation.

The United States-based UnitedHealth Group serves 75 million people and
operates in more than 50 countries.

Its core strengths are in healthcare technology, health information, care
management, consumer engagement and healthcare financing and insurance.

-- BERNAMA