DOHA: The National Diabetes Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) receives about 2,000 adult and 700 paediatric patients each month and National Diabetes Center at Al Wakra Hospital receives about 400 patient visits every month.
“These facilities serve as one-stop shops in which patients can speak with specialist doctors, renew prescriptions and learn self-care skills related to blood glucose monitoring, healthy eating and physical activity,” said HMC’s Chairman of Internal Medicine, Professor Abdul Badi Abou Samra (pictured).
HMC has transformed its diabetes services from an acute care system to a structure built around prevention and patient education as part of the solution to reduce the high prevalence of diabetes.
“Created with the vision of uniting clinical care, diabetes education, treatment and research, our National Diabetes Centers were established to both improve the quality of life for those living with diabetes and to treat the disease by focusing on early detection and prevention,” said Professor Abou Samra.
In addition to providing patients with specialised treatment, HMC is focused on informing the public about the causes, symptoms and complications of Type 2 diabetes and other lifestyle related diseases. According to Professor Abou Samra, HMC looks beyond the care that is provided in the hospital setting and works to promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle as a strategy for disease prevention.
“Structured education is a critical element of the diabetes care plan at HMC. Education empowers patients to make the behavioural changes needed to control their blood glucose levels, reduce the risk of complications and live well with diabetes. It also helps people at high risk for Type 2 diabetes make the lifestyle and behavioural changes needed to reduce their chance of developing the condition,” added Professor Abou Samra.
Research studies have found that moderate weight loss and exercise can prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes among those at high risk of developing the disease.
“Although our genes may influence the development of Type 2 diabetes, behavioural and lifestyle factors play a large role. Our lifestyle choices, specifically our nutrition and exercise habits, determine more than 50 percent of our health status; the remaining is decided by our environment and our genes,” said Professor Abou Samra.
