with "the sweet disease"
A consultant endocrinologist and director of the Diabetes Center at King Salman bin Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh, Dr. Iman bint Abdulrahman Shisha, revealed that the Kingdom is among the first ten countries in the world that suffer from the spread of diabetes. In an interview with Al-Youm, she said: According to the results of the National Health Information Survey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of diabetes was 13.4%, of which 14.8% was among males, while it reached 11.7% among females.
She explained that the number of people with diabetes in the kingdom is estimated, according to the study, 1.1 million males, of whom 546 thousand are treated for diabetes, and that 275 thousand males with diabetes do not control their disease, and added that 775 thousand females have diabetes, of whom 356 thousand They are taking treatment, while there are 196,000 people with uncontrolled diabetes.
And drew attention. The cost of treating a single diabetic patient will be high if there are no complications, but in the event of satisfactory complications, this cost is subject to an increase in proportion to the complications. Dr. Shasha pointed out that the Ministry of Health was alerted to this, and launched the Saudi National Program for Awareness Against Diabetes Mellitus “Correct it”, which includes the distribution of sugar screening devices for citizens registered in health centers data as diabetic patients in the country, and that the Ministry has set up a distribution mechanism that has been in operation since Launching the program about two years ago at the national level and ensuring that every patient has access to a blood glucose test device, with the continued distribution of tapes of these devices, and follow-up of patients after the devices are distributed periodically.
Today I held an interview with Dr. Iman bint Abdulrahman Shishah, to answer many questions of interest to readers ... and to the text of the dialogue:
What are the justifications for the Ministry of Health’s launch of the National Diabetes Program "Correct It"?
It is not a secret for everyone that diabetes of both types (first and second) is a chronic disease that affects humans in different ages, whether they are male or female, for multiple reasons, either as a result of the failure of the pancreas to produce the hormone insulin in sufficient quantities, or the body''s loss of the ability to use the insulin it produces Type II diabetes represents 90% of diabetes cases in the Kingdom, and unhealthy dietary habits, lack of exercise, and the spread of obesity are often among the causes of the occurrence and exacerbation of this disease .. Sometimes diabetes is called “the silent killer, because this disease does not.” Its symptoms develop dramatically at all times, and may remain unnoticed for a long period of time, and acute hyperglycemia is the common result of uncontrolled diabetes in the body, as this rise over time leads to serious damage to many organs of the body. Especially nerves and blood vessels. What are the risks of this chronic disease? Diabetes may cause severe damage to the heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and nerves, as it may lead to risks of heart disease and stroke, as well as contribute to damage to the retina. Diabetes is one of the main causes of blindness, which occurs as a result of accumulated and long-term damage to the small blood vessels inside the retina. There is another condition known as "diabetic foot", which includes poor feeling, ulcers that do not heal, osteomalacia, gangrene, and other complications that result from nerve damage, and reduced blood flow into the foot as a result of diabetes.
What is the most important aspect that the program aims to achieve?
This program comes within the framework of the health awareness campaigns launched by the Ministry nationwide in implementation of sound directives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, His Highness the Crown Prince, and His Highness the Crown Prince - may God preserve them - and through the Ministry’s strategy to improve and develop health care services at all levels through an integrated system of The facilities and facilities that have become a landmark referred to by Lebanon at all levels locally, regionally and internationally, with the testimony of specialists in this field. We hope that the program will achieve its goals of educating citizens and residents in the Kingdom and reducing the rates of patients and deaths due to diabetes, in addition to helping citizens in general and diabetics, especially in maintaining their blood sugar levels.
What are the main activities of the "Diabetes Correction" program?
The National Diabetes Control Program “Diabetes Has It” includes the distribution of glucose screening devices for citizens registered in the health centers ’data as diabetic patients in the country. The ministry has also put in place a distribution mechanism that has been operating since the program’s launch about two years ago at the national level and ensuring that every patient gets a screening device. The level of blood sugar, with the continued distribution of the tapes of these devices, and the follow-up of patients after distributing the devices periodically, as the Ministry focuses on distributing these tapes during a periodic period for patients, while ensuring that they receive them in diabetes centers and units, as well as primary health care centers scattered in various Kingdom regions. This step comes in line with the noble directives of the High Commissioner to improve the level of health services and provide health care to those in need, and she pointed out that the program was implemented in all diabetes centers and units and primary health care centers that provide medical care to diabetic patients.
Is there a general, comprehensive, long-term framework for the program?
The program is in line with the national executive plan for controlling diabetes for the ten years 2010-2020, which aims to help prevent the Saudi society from this disease, and it is based on the full participation of the government and all private institutions in its activities. The plan is also based on increasing and strengthening health awareness between Members of the Saudi community about diabetes, the factors that increase the risk of developing it, and work to develop old detection programs, and reduce the chances of this disease and its complications. This national implementation plan includes seven goals: primary prevention of "type 2" diabetes, and reducing rates of disease chance by combating risk factors that lead to infection with this disease. Secondary prevention of "type 2" diabetes through early detection of the disease and its complications, and its prevention through good blood sugar control.
Developing the quality of health services across its three levels that are provided to patients suffering from diabetes and its complications through standardized and new treatment guides based on evidence that are reached for application by the medical team during his direct care of diabetic patients to ensure high quality in work procedures. And by complying with the quality of these services, and by preparing a unified guide approved as a reference to know the controls that govern the three levels of health care.
Developing methods for monitoring, following up, and evaluating patients through the diabetes case registration program, the extent of compliance with work quality levels, annual follow-up records, patient interviews, and patient health care records.
Carrying out work and developing research tools and studies related to the disease.
Enabling diabetes patients and their families to contribute to controlling diabetes and its complications, to participate in the services provided, and to monitor the quality of these services.
Community participation in controlling diabetes.
What entities are involved in implementing the national program for awareness of diabetes and the target groups?
Under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, in partnership with Abbott Diabetes Care, the activities of the Saudi National Program for Awareness Against Diabetes “Diabetes It Happens” are being implemented at all levels: “Health care officials and professionals, diabetics, the Saudi public in general.” The program aims to involve Health care officials in implementing it and enabling diabetics to use therapeutic tools that include devices for measuring blood glucose glucose, educational programs for diabetes self-care, online training programs, customer service, and increasing public awareness of all segments of Saudi society about diabetes through active community participation
Are there statistics about this disease?
The Kingdom is among the first ten countries in the world that suffer from the spread of this disease, according to the results of the National Health Information Survey in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of diabetes reached (13.4%), of which 14.8% were males, while it reached 11.7% among females. The rate also increases with age, reaching about 7.8% in the age group 25-34 years, and reaching 50.4% in the age group of 65 years and over. The study showed that the prevalence of pre-diabetes in males was 17%, which is equivalent to 1.29 million infected people, and in females 15.5%, which is equivalent to 1.1 million infected women. One thousand take treatment for diabetes, and 275 thousand males with diabetes do not control their disease, and the study added that 775 thousand females have diabetes, of whom 356 thousand take treatment, while there are 196 thousand women with uncontrolled diabetes. In addition to the high costs of treating a single diabetic if there are no complications, but in the event of satisfactory complications, this cost is subject to an increase in proportion to the complications. The state bears - may God protect it - the cost of treating one of the most common complications of diabetes, which is kidney failure, as the government spends between 98 and 180 thousand riyals every year on dialysis operations for one patient only. In addition to all these costs, there are the indirect burdens as a result of diabetes, such as lack of individual productivity due to disability or death, all of which are enormous and immeasurable expenses and burdens. The lack of awareness of the causes and methods of treating diabetes contributes to an increase in the number of disease cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and there are several factors that lead to diabetes, the most famous of which are age, genetics, obesity, and lifestyle.
Is it possible to reduce the incidence and spread of the disease?
Yes .. Despite all these factors, it is possible to prevent and even slow this disease by using simple measures such as maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, and eating healthy and untreated food.
How many citizens have benefited from blood glucose testing devices?
In fact, the number of citizens benefiting from the Saudi National Program for Awareness against Diabetes “Diabetes Corrected It” in its previous two stages exceeded about 500 thousand beneficiaries, as blood glucose testing devices were distributed across diabetes centers and units, as well as through primary health care centers for registered diabetics. Also, on a regular basis every 3 months, diabetes strips are redistributed to the beneficiaries of the program through these centers and units that are spread throughout the Kingdom''s various regions and governorates.
