Diabetes can be expensive for the individual and family, according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). On World Diabetes Day today, the IDF says that in many countries, the cost of insulin injection and daily monitoring alone can consume half of a family's average disposable income. Regular and affordable access to essential diabetes medicines are out of reach for many.

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the UAE is among the highest in the world, even though the Ministry of Health and Prevention's (Mohap) latest statistics said it has dropped to 11.8 per cent of the total population in 2017 from an alarming 19.3 per cent in 2013.

According to the IDF, by 2020, an estimated 32 per cent of the adult population (age 20-79), including both UAE nationals and expatriates, may have diabetes or prediabetes at a possible cost of $8.52 billion (Dh31.27 billion) over the next decade if current trends continue.

Addressing this year's theme - 'Diabetes concerns every family' - the IDF said families have a key role to play in addressing the modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes and must be provided with the education, resources and environments to live a healthy lifestyle.

One in two people currently living with diabetes is undiagnosed. "All families are potentially affected by diabetes and so, awareness of the signs, symptoms and risk factors for all types of diabetes are vital to help detect it early," said Dr Hussein Abdulrahman Rand, assistant undersecretary for health centres and clinics at the Mohap.

In 2013, the WHO had ranked the UAE 16th in diabetes prevalence.

In 2017, the prevalence rate of the disease dropped to 17.3 per cent, according to the IDF. The federation said there were over a million people living with diabetes in the UAE and placed the country 15th worldwide for age-adjusted comparative prevalence.

The ministry is also working with the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Association (ESMA) to decrease sugar content in soft and sugary drinks, according to Dr Fadila Mohamed Sherif, director of health education and promotion department at the ministry.

Results from a survey released last week showed that nearly 70 per cent of people living with diabetes do not believe that it is a serious disease.

The Emirates Diabetes Society released findings of a patient survey that questioned 604 people in the UAE suffering from diabetes, of which only 26 per cent believed that type 2 diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Dr Abdulrazzaq Al Madani, president of the Emirates Diabetes Society said: "Type 2 diabetes is a serious epidemic, not only in the UAE, but around the world."

He also said that addressing the issue on a national level is key to control diabetes in the UAE.

"It can be brought under control through joint efforts and close collaboration of all the entities across the healthcare continuum."

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