In Qatar, the prevalence of diabetes is an estimated 17% of the population which is twice the global average. Also, 10% of patients with diabetes, have type 1 diabetes and 90% type 2 diabetes.
A 2018 study by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) predicted that type 2 diabetes prevalence in Qatar will soar from 17 percent in 2012 to at least 24 percent by 2050 -- driven by the ageing of the population and high levels of obesity.
Yesterday, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the National Diabetes Committee held a Consultation Workshop as part of the development of the next National Diabetes and Obesity Action Plan, 2024-2030. The plan will form part of MoPH’s National Health Strategy under NHS3 (2024-2030).
The main objective of the workshop was to assess achievement under the National Diabetes Strategy 2016-2022, the challenges and future plan. The workshop focused on developing the overall goals, mission, and the vision of the next phase of the national diabetes strategy.
Co-Chair of the National Diabetes Committee Prof. Abdul-Badi Abou Samra commented on the strategy, saying, “Developing the next National Action Plan for Diabetes and Obesity provides a valuable opportunity to evaluate the current vision, mission, and goals as outlined in the National Diabetes Strategy, 2016-2022.”
Prof. Abou Samra added that the plan will also cover approaches to diabetes services and care; consider the role of the relevant authorities at all levels, as well as other stakeholders; evaluate whether current efforts and investments align with identified needs; maximize the efficient use of healthcare resources; articulate a vision for preventing, detecting, and managing diabetes and obesity as well as diabetes and obesity research efforts.
Prof. Abou Samra cited obesity as the main driver of the diabetes epidemic globally and particularly in Qatar, noting that an action plan on diabetes must include an action plan on obesity to avoid redundancy of public effort.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) diabetes was responsible for 1.5 million deaths worldwide in 2019. The WHO also added that between 2000 and 2019, there was a 3% increase in age-standardized mortality rates from diabetes. In lower-middle-income countries, the mortality rate due to diabetes increased 13%.
Meanwhile, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) states that 73 million adults (20-79) are living with diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2021. The figure is estimated to increase to 95 million by 2030 and 136 million by 2045. It added that diabetes was responsible for 796,000 deaths in the MENA region in 2021.
