UAE hosts second annual diabetes conference

UAE —The Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC) and HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, part of the M42 group, have co-hosted their second annual Diabetes Conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Abu Dhabi from November 9 to 10.

Following the inaugural event’s success in 2023, this year’s conference once again brought together healthcare professionals worldwide to explore the latest in diabetes care, research, and treatment innovations.

Over 400 delegates participated in dynamic sessions at the previous conference, covering topics ranging from cutting-edge continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices to type 1 diabetes management through stem cell therapies and artificial pancreases.

Building on this momentum, the 2024 event created new opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration among both local and international healthcare networks, addressing the urgent need for comprehensive diabetes care.

This year’s program focused on practical, evidence-based insights and included interactive workshops and curated sessions led by subject-matter experts.

Key presentations highlighted management strategies for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, with a notable debate on the benefits of low-calorie diets.

Panels discussed diabetic eye complications, kidney health, and cardiovascular risks associated with diabetes.

Specialised workshops delved into CGM data interpretation and explored how technology is reshaping diabetes care practices.

Professor Maha Barakat, Assistant Minister for Health and Life Sciences at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opened the conference with an update on diabetes guidelines, emphasising the need for consistent, evidence-based patient care.

Professor Amir Sam, a consultant endocrinologist, head of the School of Medicine at Imperial College London, and conference chair, stressed that with over 73 million people in the MENA region affected by diabetes, advancing treatment and management strategies is critical.

He highlighted that the conference allows healthcare leaders to learn from one another and examine the latest developments in diabetes care.

He also urged all stakeholders to join forces in the battle against diabetes to improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Mustafa Khan, Medical Director at ICLDC, expressed pride in co-hosting the conference with HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Center.

He remarked on the importance of shared experiences, insights, and best practices, highlighting that collaboration strengthens their collective ability to reduce diabetes prevalence and solidify the region’s position as a leader in diabetes healthcare.

Dr. Huda Ezzeddin, Consultant in Diabetes & Endocrinology at HealthPlus, shared that their ongoing commitment to advancing diabetes care involves equipping healthcare professionals with the latest tools and knowledge.

She described the conference as a valuable educational platform that provides insights from international and regional experts on new treatment options and technologies for diabetes management.

Among the prominent international speakers was Professor Ketan Dhatariya from Imperial College London, UK, a recognised authority in diabetes whose insights further enriched the learning experience for attendees.

By uniting expertise from around the world, this year’s conference not only strengthened healthcare networks but also provided a hopeful outlook on reducing the global impact of diabetes.

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