Region's first 'DiabeticFootAcademy'attracts almost 50 physicians from across Saudi Arabiaas MOH prepares to launch new national network of diabetes centres

6th April 2011 (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia):The Middle East's first Diabetic Foot Academy (DFA), sponsored by Smith & Nephew and endorsed by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health, attracted 47 physicians from across the Kingdom for a three-day accredited event focusing on the disease and the latest advances in prevention and treatment. The DFA was timed to coincide with preparations for the launch in early 2012 of 20 new diabetes centres across Saudi Arabia and is part of the 'train the trainers' programme through which physicians attending the DFA will then train colleagues working in this new national network of diabetes centres.

Diabetic foot disease is a common and serious complication of diabetes, which is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia and the region, and frequently results in foot amputations which are avoidable with good patient education and prevention protocols. For example, in the US, there are 60,000 diabetes related amputations each year and foot ulceration is the single most common cause - around 85 per cent of diabetic amputations are preceded by a foot ulceration. Poorly fitting shoes causing pressure on the foot are the primary cause in at least 75 per cent of foot ulcers.

The DFA was led by one of the world's leading experts, Prof Gerit D Mulder of the University of California San Diego, and was endorsed by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health. The DFA was chaired by Dr. Khaled A. Abdulrahman Tayeb, Consultant Diabetologist & Endocrinologist, Director of Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, Al Nour Specialist Hospital, Makkah.

According to Dr Tayeb, patient education and a strategy to tackle the problem of foot amputation are our major priorities, and the DFA initiative will make an important contribution: "In addition to setting up the network of diabetes centres, we need to train physicians and nurses in diabetes care, " he said. "The DFA helped attending physicians to examine cases and develop skills and judgement in treating these serious diseases. The DFA agenda covered all aspects of diabetes foot disease, focusing on recent trends in diagnosis and management, and the course content was excellent and very well presented by Professor Mulder, the course leader."

The feedback from participants of the DFA was very positive: "We hope that the DFA will continue with Smith & Nephew. Education and training programmes are a vital part of the strategy to combat diabetes and link together the work of the diabetes clinic network," added Dr Tayeb.

"Smith & Nephew is delighted with the quality and impact of the 1st MOH Diabetic Foot Academy, and very grateful for the endorsement of the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health," commented Ms Hayfa Salman, Product Manager for Advanced Wound Management with Smith & Nephew in the Middle East. "This new educational initiative will provide a model for future DFAs in Saudi Arabia in the future, as part of our commitment to Continuous Medical Education in the Middle East."

Smith & Nephew, the global medical technology company which focuses on repairing and healing patients' bodies, organised and sponsored the Diabetic Foot Academy (DFA) held in Jeddah. The comprehensive three-day programme comprised lectures and workshops
focusing on the condition, the principles of foot and wound care and the latest approaches to care and surgical interventions. The DFA was accredited by the Department of Surgery and Orthopaedics at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, USA. www.smith-nephew.com

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The Middle East and North African regions are amongst the most affected by the consequences of diabetes with a prevalence in the GCC of between 25 per cent and 35 per cent of the adult population. Due to cultural, social, educational and climate factors, the incidence of lower limb lesions (an injury or damage which causes changes to the skin and organ) including foot ulcers amongst diabetic patients is very high - affecting about 50 per cent of all diabetic patients.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the number of diabetes patients in Saudi Arabia is expected to grow 283 per cent between 2000 and 2030, due to changes in lifestyle and diet leading to increasing levels of obesity. Heart disease and diabetes are two of the main causes of death in Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom has the second highest rate of diabetes in the GCC, after the UAE.

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes and if untreated can lead to amputation and severe lifestyle consequences for patients and their families. Lack of appropriate footcare and exposure of the foot - for example, by wearing sandals - can contribute to the development of foot ulcers amongst diabetics and these can quickly lead to serious problems including the need to amputate.

Dr. Khaled A. Abdulrahman Tayeb
Consultant Diabetologist & Endocrinologist
Director of Diabetes & EndocrinologyCenter, Al Nour Specialist Hospital, Makkah
Chairman of the administrative board Sheffa Charity Association. Makkah
Dr. Tayeb is a consultant of internal medicine and endocrinology with special interest in diabetes care. He graduated from ViennaUniversity in 1985 and since then he has been working to develop diabetes care all over the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He is the founder of the DiabetesCenter in Al-Noor Hospital Makkah which is one of the first centers providing multidisciplinary health care for people with diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Dr. Tayeb also headed the national diabetes committee for diabetes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for 3 years and during that period, he has initiated the project of establishing 20 diabetes centers in the Kingdom and has since then working to make this project a reality to help improve diabetes care in Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Tayeb introduced the up-to-date diagnostic and therapeutic tools of diabetic foot care management including modern dressings and offloading modalities which has very much influenced the outcome of diabetic foot disease in the area. He also helped establishing other foot clinics in the region and trained groups of nurses and doctors on the subject.

Dr. Tayeb has several publications both in English and Arabic language.

Smith & Nephew
Smith & Nephew provides a full portfolio of products to its customers and supports its range of products with comprehensive learning and education programmes for medical staff and patients. Each year, Smith & Nephew trains more than 150,000 healthcare professionals with a full range of educational programmes. 

For more information, please contact:
Jonathan Walsh
WPR
Dubai
Mobile: +971 50 4588610
Email: jon@wprme.com  

© Press Release 2011