Dubai Health Authority hosts ‘Leaders at Your Service' initiative, discusses diabetes management

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dubai,  April 15, 2015: The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) recently held its monthly ‘Leaders at Your Service' initiative to provide customers with an opportunity to directly express their feedback, suggestions and complaints to senior DHA leaders.

Shaikha Al Rahoomi, Director of Customer Relations Department at the DHA  said the initiative was launched a year ago and takes place every month. “ It has been very successful so far with customers appreciating the opportunity to directly communicate with health leaders and give their suggestions, feedback or complaints.”

Calls received during the two hour live session  via the DHA's help line number 800 342 are recorded and promptly followed-up. In addition to this, the DHA has several platforms for customers to communicate with the Authority.

Dr M. Hamed Farooqi,  consultant endocrinologist and director of the Dubai Diabetes Centre took part in this month's initiative.

He addressed several queries related to diabetes, pre-diabetes and ways to deal with complications of diabetes.  He also highlighted the functioning of the Dubai Diabetes Centre that provides holistic multidisciplinary management of the disease. Diabetes is a chronic disease and continuing of all aspects of  diabetes care is essential to effectively control the disease and its complications.

Dr Farooqi also highlighted the need for patient empowerment which is a principle that is strictly followed at the Dubai Diabetes Centre. He said patients are educated about their disease and why they need to follow certain precautions, they are also given dietary education so that they can follow right eating patterns.

Dr Farooqi emphasized on the importance of regular exercise and a healthy diet for everyone and particularly for those at risk of developing the disease. He also strongly advocated that people with a risk factor of developing the disease should get themselves screened regularly and the frequency of the screening  should be decided by their family physician.  Risk factors for the disease include family history of diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, overweight or obesity, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes etc.