on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, the Lebanese Society for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Lipids, in collaboration with Merck, a leading science and technology company, is launching “Ma tdaye3 el Forsa” – “Don’t miss the opportunity”- aiming to highlight the importance of the prediabetes stage, not to ignore the signs and manage it early, thus delaying or preventing the development of Type II Diabetes.
The Prediabetes stage can save the lives of many individuals, especially those most prone to develop diabetes. Warning signs should not be ignored, and the opportunity should not be missed to avoid or delay developing the disease.
1 out of 3 people have Prediabetes[1], and 9 out of 10 people don’t know they have the disease[2]–[3], hence the need to raise awareness about the Prediabetes stage; detect risk factors early through blood tests that monitor and maintain normal blood sugar levels; follow the necessary preventive measures, consult the doctor regularly to start treatment if necessary, and prevent the disease from developing into Type II Diabetes.
According to Dr. Paola Atallah, president of the Society for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Lipids: “Pre-diabetes is an essential stage that should not be ignored, as it helps in early detection and helps in the control and management of Diabetes, thus delaying its development and preventing it from turning into a chronic disease with serious complications. The prevalence of Type II Diabetes in Lebanon has reached 8%[4], a high rate, hence the importance of spreading awareness in order to limit the spread of the disease and control it in its early stages.”
Dr. Hala Sleiman, Merck’s General Manager for the Near East region, said: “With nearly half a billion people worldwide estimated to have diabetes according to IDF, there is an urgent need to raise awareness of its signs, symptoms and risk factors to help detect it early and reduce the individual’s risk.” and she added, “Merck is committed to its motto As One for Patients to support healthcare professionals and healthcare related organizations to raise awareness for early diagnosis that can prevent or delay long-term health complications by maintaining blood glucose as close to normal as possible”
Those who are 45 years old and older and have a family medical history of Diabetes, are identified as most at risk of developing Prediabetes, as well as obese individuals who do not follow a healthy diet and do not exercise, and individuals with a Body Mass Index (BMI) higher than 25Kg/m2[5]-5.
Studies have demonstrated that preventive measures such as maintaining a healthy lifestyle, following a balanced diet, and exercising regularly to maintain a healthy weight, effectively reduces the risks of prediabetes.
To underline the need to know more about Prediabetes and its possible implications/consequences, the campaign urges citizens to assess their health status, and discover the risk factors, by filling in the required information on the following link: https://www.yourprediabetes.info/en_EG/home/prediabetes-assessment.html
As prediabetes is treatable, its signs should not be ignored, in order to delay or prevent the development of type II Diabetes and avoid its dangerous complications; hence the importance of regular monitoring by the doctor, adhering to the indications, and not waste this opportunity.
- Prediabetes – Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020 [cited 2020 Oct 11]. Available from: http://bit.ly/2hMpYrt
- Tier 1: Promote Awareness of Prediabetes and the National DPP Among Patients at Risk [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2020 Oct 12]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/pharmacist/tier1-promote-awareness.html
- Diabetes – Northeast Health District [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 12]. Available from:
https://publichealthathens.com/wp/health-info/healthy-living/diabetes/
- pdf [Internet]. [cited 2020 Oct 9]. Available from: https://professional.diabetes.org/sites/professional.diabetes.org/files/media/prediabetes.pdf
- Association AD. 2. Classification and Diagnosis of Diabetes: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2020. Diabetes Care. 2020 Jan 1;43(Supplement 1): S14–31.
