‘Not too early for Diabetes, don’t delay screening’ campaign launched

AMMAN — On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, which annually falls on November 14, and to complement the campaign "avoid the 100" of 2021 and “Don’t miss the opportunity” campaign in 2020, the Jordanian Society for the Care of Diabetes in partnership with Merck, a leading science and technology company, launched a campaign titled “Not too early for Diabetes, don’t delay screening”. 

This campaign aims to highlight the importance of early detection of diabetes and prediabetes through a simple test known as the fasting blood sugar test starting at the age of 35 and older, as recommended by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in January 2022 to detect diabetes, in its early stages and avoid its complications, said a statement from the society.

Through an awareness video and educational social media posts, the campaign focuses its messages on the factors that increase the risk of prediabetes and diabetes, which require the most vulnerable groups to take the fasting blood sugar test as soon as possible to detect diabetes at its onset.

The most vulnerable group prone to diabetes include those aged 35 and older as recommended by the ADA in January 2022, people with a family medical history of diabetes, obese individuals with a BMI above 25Kg/m2, those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and gestational diabetes.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and contributes to 30 per cent of strokes, 40 per cent of heart attacks, 50 per cent of kidney failure requiring dialysis, in addition to 70 per cent of leg and foot amputations. 

From here comes the importance to spread awareness about prediabetes stage, the need to detect risk factors early, and act to reduce the development of Type II diabetes, read the statement. 

Adherence to preventive measures such as regular exercise and a balanced diet also helps, as well as a periodic follow-up with a doctor who may recommend starting treatment if the need arises to delay or avoid the development of the condition.

Building on this topic, the president of the Jordanian Society for the Care of Diabetes, Nadima Sheghem, said: "The number of people with diabetes in Jordan is increasing significantly, hence the need to unite efforts and exert energies to spread awareness about this chronic disease and its serious complications in order to control it and limit its development.” 

“The percentage of people with diabetes and prediabetes in Jordan reached 45 per cent [diabetes 19.6 per cent and prediabetes 25.4 per cent] according to the latest study issued by the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics, and the percentage of overweight and obesity reached 78 per cent,” Sheghem added.

“Early diagnosis starting at 35 and older as recommended by the American Diabetes Association in January 2022, simple lifestyle adjustments, consulting a doctor and adhering to the guidelines for keeping blood glucose under control are all steps that greatly help in controlling the disease,” Sheghem added.

Hala Sleiman, Merck’s general manager for the Near East region, said: "The need to raise awareness about the risks and complications of diabetes and prediabetes is increasing and the importance of early diagnosis is growing to avoid or delay long-term health complications caused by it.”

She added: "In line with the commitment to its purpose ‘As One for Patients’, Merck reaffirms its support for them to improve their lives through constant cooperation with healthcare professionals besides relevant associations, and the need of early diagnosis through practical and routine examinations to identify risk factors in vulnerable groups and introduce preventive measures to reduce the progression of the disease.”

Merck has launched several campaigns in previous years, most recently last year: The "avoid the 100" campaign that aimed to spread awareness about prediabetes and diabetes and conducting the necessary blood tests to reduce its development to the second type and thus avoid serious complications.