MEDICS are sounding the alarm on diabetes, with one in seven people in Bahrain currently suffering from the disease, a top forum has heard.
The shocking figure, which has made Bahrain one of the countries most affected by diabetes globally, has prompted a nationwide mobile awareness campaign to educate young children about healthy lifestyle habits.
This was highlighted yesterday during the opening of the Bahrain Diabetes Conference and Global Diabetic Foot Course 2025, which is taking place at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel in Manama until Sunday.
Supreme Council of Health (SCH) chairman Lieutenant General Dr Shaikh Mohammed bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, who inaugurated the conference, reaffirmed Bahrain’s commitment to combating diabetes and improving the quality of life for individuals living with the condition.
BDS scientific committee chair Dr Dalal Alromaihi during the opening ceremony
“Statistics indicate that 15 per cent of the population is living with diabetes,” he said.
“Patients must be educated on how to effectively manage the disease, as poor control can lead to severe complications such as diabetic foot.”
He stressed the importance of continuously advancing Bahrain’s healthcare sector to strengthen early screening and ensure timely care for individuals at risk of developing diabetes-related complications.
More than 8,000 students from public and private schools in Bahrain have taken part in the national campaign designed to encourage children to adopt habits that reduce the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
The Mobile Diabetes Unit (DMU) targets grade three students, aiming to instill healthy behaviours from an early age so that children not only adopt these habits themselves but also share them with their families.
Correctly portioned meals, highlighted on the sidelines of the conference
The event coincides with World Diabetes Day tomorrow and is organised by the Bahrain Diabetes Society (BDS) in collaboration with the Gulf Diabetic Foot Working Group.
It brings together leading experts to discuss the latest research findings and best practices in diabetes prevention and management.
On the sidelines of the event, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) Diabetes Mobile Unit academic director Danah Smith told the GDN that the initiative aims to encourage younger generations to adopt healthier lifestyles to help reduce the prevalence of diabetes in the kingdom.
“Our target group is Grade 3 students, as international research shows that the window of opportunity to prevent obesity and diabetes begins at a very young age,” she explained.
“We aim to raise awareness among children about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle so that they can not only make better choices themselves but also inspire their families to do the same.”
As part of the programme, students receive a bilingual storybook – in Arabic and English – featuring a family in which the father has Type 2 diabetes, the mother has gestational diabetes, and the children are at risk of obesity.
“Through the story, children learn how to prevent obesity and diabetes and are encouraged to apply these lessons at home in creative ways.
“We focus on three key aspects – encouraging families to stay active, adopt healthy eating habits, and maintain good sleep routines,” Ms Smith added.
“Evidence shows that when these factors are combined, they help significantly reduce the risk of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.”
Children are also taught about balanced portion sizes, the importance of eating fruits and vegetables rather than consuming them as juices, reducing processed food intake, and following healthy mealtime practices.
The DMU programme, established in 2012, is a joint project between the BDS and RCSI Bahrain.
It is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Manama and implemented in collaboration with the Education and Health ministries.
The programme was relaunched in 2023 to align with RCSI Bahrain’s three core pillars – research, teaching and learning, and community service and expand its reach.
Some of the sessions held yesterday included Diabesity, Advances in Diabetes Prevention: Strategies to Reduce Prevalence and Impact, Bahrain Diabetes Society – A Year in Review, Cardio and Renal Metabolic Syndrome and Emerging Technologies in Diabetes Management.
Participants who attend all four days of the conference will successfully complete the GDFC, a programme aiming to educate healthcare providers on the latest insights, risk factors and management strategies for preventing and treating diabetic complications.
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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