3rd Endocrine & Diabetes Update held in RAK

Ras Al Khaimah, March 6: On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince & Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah & Chancellor of RAK Medical & Health Sciences University (RAKMHSU), his son Sheikh Mohammed Bin Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi inaugurated a grand event titled 3rd Endocrine & Diabetes Update. 

The third in the series, this annual event is attended by senior health care specialists from around the world. This year highly learned doctors gave an update on chronic diseases such as Diabetes and Endocrine disorders, Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular diseases related to Diabetes. 

RAKMHSU in association with Al Zahrawi Hospital & AKMG RAK Chapter is the organizer of the event which took place on 5th March 2010 at state-of-the-art auditorium of RAKMHSU. Dr. Hossam Hamdy, Vice Chancellor, Sharjah University and Dr. Wyatt R Hume, Provost, United Arab Emirates University, were the Guest of Honors.  More than 500 delegates graced the event.

Various industry research findings indicate that healthcare expenditure in the 38 million strong populous GCC countries is expected to grow from US$ 14 billion in 2008 to US$ 60 billion in the next two decades.  In the UAE, the proportion of nationals suffering from Diabetes has reached 24%, the second highest in the world. Heart diseases related to Diabetes were responsible for 31% of deaths in 2008. 

H.H. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi said: “It is our endeavor to create a platform that will allow sharing of knowledge, discuss new trends and how any of these issues relate to the UAE. Besides, this platform is serving a very critical purpose: that of bringing the real world issues at the doorsteps of academia. It is the interaction of academia with the healthcare industry that will throw solutions that we can never imagine happening otherwise. I have been told that 20-30% of adult population in the UAE is suffering from type 2 Diabetes. And today’s discussion showed us that newer and newer molecules are being added in armamentarium to tackle the Diabetes & the hunt for an ideal agent for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) - formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus - may end soon.” 

Type 2 DM is the most common endocrine disorder. The escalating prevalence & economic burden of Type 2 DM presents a major public health challenge to most of the developing & developed countries and UAE is not spared of it. Besides, surgical management of Type 2 DM was also discussed at the 3rd Endocrine & Diabetes Update. 

The other common but under diagnosed endocrine problems are hypothyroidism & Hypovitaminosis D. High index of suspicion is the key to diagnose and treat them as timely treatment can change the quality of life tremendously.

Like type 2 DM, Metabolic syndrome is very common in UAE and is again a very strong risk factor for CV events. Polycystic ovarian disease is a syndrome complex where insulin resistance plays a key role in pathogenesis. There can be metabolic and gynecological implications attached to it and it is also a fore runner of type 2 Diabetes.