AMMAN —
On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, the
Jordanian Society for the Care of Diabetes launched a campaign entitled “Not too early for Diabetes, don’t delay
screening,” the society said in a press statement.
اضافة اعلان
The campaign is
part of similar annual events, such as “avoid the 100” launched in 2021, and
“Don’t miss the opportunity” campaign of 2020.
This year’s
campaign is in partnership with Merck, a leading science and technology
company.
“This campaign aims
at highlighting the importance of early detection of diabetes, and prediabetes
through a simple test known as the fasting blood sugar test starting at age of
35 and older,” the statement said.
It said early
screening was recommended by the
American Diabetes Association (ADA) in January
2022 to detect diabetes, in its early stages and avoid its complications.
“Through an
awareness video, and educational social media posts, the campaign focuses its
messages on the factors that increase the risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes,”
the statement said.
It said that the
screening was required from the most vulnerable groups, those aged 35 and older
as recommended by the ADA, people with a family medical history of diabetes,
obese individuals with a BMI above 25 Kilogram/m2, those with high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, and gestational diabetes. It urged them to take the
fasting blood sugar test soon to detect diabetes at its onset.
“Diabetes is the
leading cause of blindness and contributes to 30 percent of strokes, 40 percent
of heart attacks, 50 percent of kidney failure requiring dialysis, in addition
to 70 percent of leg and foot amputations,” the society said.
“From here comes
the importance to spread awareness about pre-diabetes stage, the need to detect
risk factors early, and act to reduce the development of Type II diabetes,” it
pointed out.
“Adherence to
preventive measures, such as regular exercise, and a balanced diet also helps,
as well as a periodic follow-up with a doctor who may recommend starting
treatment if the need arises to delay or avoid the development of the
condition,” it explained.
Building on this
topic, society President Dr Nadima Sheghem said: “the number of people with
diabetes in Jordan is increasing significantly, hence the need to unite efforts
and exert energies to spread awareness about this chronic disease, and its
serious complications in order to control it and limit its development.”
“The percentage of
people with diabetes and prediabetes in Jordan reached 45 percent (diabetes
19.6 percent, and prediabetes 25.4 percent), and overweight and obesity reached
78 percent,” Sheghem said, citing the latest study by the National Center for
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics.
Early diagnosis,
simple lifestyle adjustments, consulting a doctor, and adhering to the
guidelines for keeping blood glucose under control “are all steps that greatly
help in controlling the disease”, the society president said.
Dr Hala Sleiman,
Merck’s general manager for the Near East region, said: “The need to raise
awareness about the risks and complications of diabetes and prediabetes is
increasing, and the importance of early diagnosis is growing to avoid or delay
long-term health complications caused by it”.
She added: “In line
with the commitment to its purpose ‘As One for Patients’, Merck reaffirms its
support for them to improve their lives through constant cooperation with
healthcare professionals besides relevant associations, and the need of early
diagnosis through practical and routine examinations to identify risk factors
in vulnerable groups and introduce preventive measures to reduce the
progression of the disease.”
Merck has launched
several campaigns in previous years, the last was in 2021, called “avoid the
100” campaign that aimed at spreading awareness about prediabetes and diabetes,
and conducting the necessary blood tests to reduce its development to the
second type, thus avoid serious complications.
It also urges citizens to assess their health status, and
discover risk factors by filling in the required information on the
following link.
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