HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, the Minister of Public Health, visited a screening booth at Hamad General Hospital (HGH) Thursday, to raise awareness about both the high prevalence of diabetes in Qatar and the importance of early detection, as part of the 
activities of World Health Day. 
“In Qatar, as is the case in much of the rest of the world, the burden of diabetes and its complications are high. Diabetes is a serious condition which has many consequences if left untreated, including complications such as blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputations. Regular diabetes screenings are crucial for early detection and events such as World Health Day serve as important 
reminders of this,” said al-Kuwari.
Manal Musallam Othman, director, diabetes education at the National Diabetes Centre, stressed the importance of education, stating that it is the cornerstone of both diabetes management and prevention, adding that a large number of type 2 diabetes cases are preventable. 
“Simple lifestyle measures have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes. Maintaining a normal body weight, engaging in regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk of diabetes. One of the first steps for prevention is to get tested and understand your risk for developing type 2 diabetes,” said Othman.
The National Diabetes Centre at Hamad General Hospital was opened in 2013 and receives about 2,000 adult and 700 paediatric patients every month. The National Diabetes Centre at Al Wakra Hospital, inaugurated in December 2014, receives approximately 
400 patient visits per month.