The World Health Organization (WHO) website reports that 346 million people worldwide suffer from Diabetes. The WHO also projects that by year 2030 Diabetes deaths would have doubled. Amidst disturbing facts, figures and mounting international concern, the Indian Doctors Forum (IDF) convened a seminar on 30 December 2011 at the Kuwait Medical Association Hall on "How to improve quality of life and longevity in people with Diabetes". The meeting that was sponsored by AMMA Kuwait and supported by Gulf Mart and Al-Zahem Malhotra, brought together eminent doctors, paramedics, nurses and people from all walks of life in the battle against Diabetes dubbed the silent killer. The objective of the seminar was to create awareness on better management of life living with Diabetes. This came at an especially crucial moment for those in Kuwait as the country battles an alarmingly high incidence of the health condition.

The event was inaugurated by H.E. the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Sri Satish C. Mehta who thanked the IDF and AMMA Kuwait for their exemplary service towards improving community health and lauded the various initiatives in this direction. The President of IDF, Dr. Narayanan Nampoory who also led the seminar stressed in his welcome address the extent of systemic damage caused by Diabetes. The main speaker of the event Dr. Waheed Al-Dahi, Chief of Diabetes, Mubarak Al Kabir Hospital and the Director of the Diabetes program in Kuwait spoke on how to improve quality of life and increase longevity. The other speakers who graced the evening were Senior Cardiologist Dr. C.G. Suresh, Senior Opthalmologist Dr. Vivek Wani, Senior Nephrologist Dr. Prasad Nair and Senior Consultant Surgeon Dr. Vinod Grover who spoke extensively on Diabetes and related health issues. Eliciting significant interaction between patients and an expert panel of 20 doctors was a highly interactive question and answer session that followed the seminar.

As the seminar progressed nearly 200 registered participants underwent free of cost, blood sugar, cholesterol and HbA1C tests conducted by the doctors of IDF and medical personnel under the sponsorship of AMMA Kuwait. Dr. Noble of IDF and Eng. Ashok of AMMA Kuwait coordinated the highly successful event that provided a timely opportunity to patients to clarify their many queries and understand the intricacies of their condition better. Sri Madhavankutty Menon of AMMA KUWAIT thanked all those who contributed to the success of the program.

The evening ended on a healthy note with the serving of a healthy green salad by the committed volunteers of AMMA Kuwait.

Ensure your copy of the DVD of the Seminar with AMMA Kuwait at [email protected] or on 99540511. The IDF invites all readers to join the 'Beat the diabetes forum’ by visiting their website www.indiandoctorsforum.org and clicking 'Beat Diabetes Forum' to keep abreast of the news on Diabetes.