Ras Al Khaimah, UAE– August 2024- Continuing its mission to educate the community on effective diabetes management, RAK Hospital held an insightful webinar titled “Diabetes: A Metabolic Syndrome” as part of the ongoing RAK Diabetes Challenge. This marked the third year of the successful initiative, which aims to empower participants with knowledge and tools to combat diabetes. The session was led by Dr. Hala Youssef Hamdy AbouelSeoud, Specialist Endocrinology and Head of Department at RAK Hospital.
Dr. Hala highlighted the global challenge of diabetes, which affects nearly half a billion people worldwide. She discussed the lifestyle factors contributing to the rise of this condition, including genetics, poor diet, lack of physical activity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Dr. Hala emphasized that these factors, combined with certain medical conditions, constitute what is medically known as Metabolic Syndrome, or Syndrome X.
Metabolic syndrome significantly raises the risk of developing serious health issues such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Managing it usually involves lifestyle changes such as improving diet, increasing physical activity, and losing weight, along with medical treatment for any underlying conditions.
Dr. Hala noted that Metabolic Syndrome impairs the body’s ability to utilize insulin effectively, leading to elevated blood glucose levels and, ultimately, diabetes. She warned that excessive glucose in the bloodstream could result in severe complications, including high blood pressure, cardiac ailments, neuropathy, and renal disease.
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“To effectively manage and treat diabetes, a holistic approach is essential. This begins with lifestyle changes, including a diet low in carbohydrates such as starches, white bread, and rice and high in fiber from green leafy and other vegetables. I recommend incorporating at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily, whether it’s walking, swimming, or even household chores. It’s also crucial to maintain a healthy weight, ideally with a BMI below 25; research shows that losing just 7% of excess weight can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by an impressive 58%.” said Dr. Hala Al Hourani.
During the Q&A session, Dr. Hala addressed various participant queries, emphasizing the need for regular HbA1c tests, annual eye and kidney exams, blood pressure control, frequent foot exams, and weekly self-monitoring of blood sugar.
