Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in collaboration with the University of Leicester in UK, announced type 2 diabetes educational programme developed by researchers from the UK, which has been adopted for Arab patients.
The programme, Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND), was developed through evidence-based research and has been widely implemented across the UK during the past decade.
Based around physical activity and healthy lifestyle changes, the programme was adapted from English to Arabic, a world-first for the curriculum, as part of an ongoing effort to support patients with type 2 diabetes in Qatar and other Arabic-speaking countries.
Director of Diabetes Education at HMC, Manal Othman says diabetes is one of the most pressing health conditions in Qatar. She says unless wide-ranging steps are taken to change behaviours and address diabetes risk factors, the number of families affected by the disease will continue to grow.
“We know that the majority of diabetes care is the responsibility of the patient, so it is essential that our patients are well-informed and skilled to manage this disease,” Othman said.
Othman and her team not only adapted the programme from English to Arabic, but they also made modifications to ensure it was culturally appropriate and the content relevant to the local population. The programme, which consists of six hours of education and is generally delivered in one-day or half-day formats, helps participants understand their diabetes, including risk factors and complications, and make food choices.
Senior Consultant and Head of the Endocrinology Department at Hamad General Hospital, Dr Mahmoud Zirie says the program is significant because diabetes is a progressive condition. He says while traditionally treatment has centred on drug interventions, the benefits of educating people about how to manage their condition themselves cannot be disputed.
“If not managed properly, type 2 diabetes can lead to devastating complications, including blindness, a lost limb or an increased risk of a stroke or heart attack, which is why introducing people to DESMOND is so crucial,” Dr Zirie said.