Alarming rise in diabetes among children

[admin]

DOHA • Studies in Qatar have revealed that 40 percent of the children in the country are suffering from different kinds of diabetes, according to an expert.

Dr Abdullah Al Hamaq, Executive Director, Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) announced this in a Press conference last night while briefing the media about Childhood Diabetes and Obesity Conference, to be held next month.

"Globally there are 500,000 children under the age of 15 suffering from Type I diabetes," said Al Hamaq. "In Qatar, 40 percent of children are suffering from diabetes I and II, according to a study conducted by the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. This figure is increasing alarmingly each year," he said.

The QDA with the collaboration of Detroit Medical Centre, Children Hospital of Mechigan (USA) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) will organise an international conference to address the alarming obesity and diabetes in children. The three-day conference from October 10 to 12 will be held at Doha Sheraton Hotel.

"Lifestyle is the main reason for this alarming rise of childhood diabetes," said Sharoud A Matthis, Programme Manager, QDA. "Unhealthy food habits, less exercise and also sometimes presence of a genetic factor all propel diabetes in the young," she told The Peninsula.

The QDA aims to deliver health care for the society regardless of nationality and more especially for the children through this conference.

The conference will introduce some of the recent and relevant research topics related to diabetes like pancreatic islet cell transplant in Qatar.

"Experts from hospitals in the United States and medical centres in Qatar will participate in the conference," said Dr Mohamoud Al Zyoud, Consultant Pediatrician at HMC and Head of the Scientific Committee of the conference. "The three-day conference will include an introductory session on the first day, Type I diabetes in children on the second day and on the third day, Type II diabetes and obesity in children will be discussed."

"The conference will also herald a series of activities in co-operation with the schools like the awareness campaign. These will be announced at the conference, which is the first step towards controlling diabetes in children," said Matthis. Industries Qatar will be the platinum sponsor of the conference.