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Sunday, July 5, 2009

‘Sedentary lifestyle stimulates diabetes’

BY PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 14 Nov 2008
SEDENTARY lifestyle stimulates the diabetes prevalence among the younger generation in the UAE, warn experts.
Dr Muna Al Kawari, director of primary healthcare at the Ministry of Health, said: “Diabetes has become a seriously debilitating condition, afflicting the youth of the UAE. As the younger generation become increasingly accustomed to an inactive lifestyle, the potential for it to explode into an epidemic is rising.”
She was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of “Unite for Diabetes 2008″ campaign at Ibn Battuta Mall, in line with the global focus for world diabetes day on the World Diabetes Day. The largest diabetes-awareness drive in Dubai, supported by Dubai HealthCare City, aims at raising awareness about the condition of diabetes in children and adolescents in the city.
A spokesperson at Ibn Battuta mall said: “The UAE national football team members Adil Abdul-Aziz and Ismail Al-Hammadi from Al Ahli and Issa Ali and Majed Nasser from Al Wasl kicked off a string of fun charity activities with the first few rounds at the penalty shoot-out.”
“Dr Muna Al Kawari along with Nasser Al Budoor, assistant under secretary and director at the ministry of health, contributed the first two blue circles on the Ring of Hope which is in the running to become the world’s largest blue circle collage.
Each small blue circle is priced at Dhs10 and the mall is counting on public generosity to make the world record and raise a substantial amount for the diabetes department of the ministry of health,” added David Thurling, managing director at Nakheel shopping malls group.
“The first step towards raising diabetes awareness is to get as many people tested as possible. The more data we assimilate, the more we can understand the factors leading to its rise spread in the region and work towards a focused preventative approach,” said Advet Bambhani, CEO at Jebel Ali Hospital, the partner in the campaign.
“Free medical test, diabetic screening and nutritional consultations are offered for the customers and visitors at Ibn Battuta Mall throughout the five-day campaign. The campaign runs from Nov 10 to 15, with the activities open to the public from 3 pm onwards,” he added.

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