Diabetes is a chronic disease with the potential of affecting all organs and organ systems. About 15% of Dubai’s population are diabetic. An additional 16% are considered “PREDIABETIC”, which consists of a condition characterized by slightly elevated blood glucose levels. Prediabetic patients are at an increased risk of developing diabetes within the following years. It is of critical importance to know about this risk and to consider all possible measures to avoid or at least to delay the onset of a fully developed diabetes.

Diabetes Screening for Adults

People with prediabetes usually don’t have symptoms. This is why 90% of affected persons do not even know about their risk. Diabetic screening is recommended by scientific societies for this reason every 3 to 5 years for all adults beginning at the age of 45. Obese patients, women with gestational diabetes during pregnancy and patients with positive history of diabetes in their families are at higher risk to become diabetic.

Criteria of Prediabetes:

The most important actions prediabetic people should take is to focus on “healthy lifestyle changes”: keep healthy diet, follow regular physical activity, reduce weight and refrain from smoking. Careful attention to food choices, regular activity and – most importantly – weight loss, can eventually reverse the disease and reduce the risk of diabetes.

A moderate reduction of the body weight by 5-7% already reduces the risk of diabetes significantly. However, to sustain achieved weight loss over longer period is difficult. Attending continuous diabetes prevention programs or participating in self-help groups make life style changes enjoyable and long term outcome more successful.

We cordially invite you to join our Amber Diabetes Registry or our Amber Diabetes Patient Education Program. Our highly specialized interdisciplinary Diabetes Care Team is looking forward to take care of you.