ICLDC Embraces The Spirit Of The Nation

Abu Dhabi, November 2013: Imperial College London Diabetes Centre's (ICLDC) two facilities in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain have changed colour, switching the usual blue external lighting for red, green and black in a show of unity as the UAE readies to celebrate its 42nd National Day.

This year's National Day comes  just weeks after new figures from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) revealed that the UAE ranks 15th worldwide with 18.98% of its adult population living with diabetes, half of whom do not know they have it.

Meanwhile, ICLDC's long-running public health awareness campaign ‘Diabetes-Knowledge-Action', under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak has reached out to nearly 200,000 people since its launch in 2007 to spread awareness that the key to the prevention of type 2 diabetes is regular physical activity, a healthy diet and maintenance of a normal body weight.

ICLDC is going all out to get the UAE walking more this year. Start Walking. is the theme of Diabetes-Knowledge-Action in 2013. The initiative is encouraging the nation to put its walking shoes on.

Walk 2013 is the nation's leading annual Walkathon. It took place on November 15, with a record turnout of more than 20,000 people pacing the five kilometre main walk around Abu Dhabi's Yas Marina Circuit. Walk 2013 and many other events have seen more than 70 million steps taken in support of Start Walking.

New figures from International Diabetes Federation (November 14 2013)

• 382 million are living with diabetes worldwide, up from 371 million a year ago

• With close to half of them estimated to be undiagnosed, as the symptoms of diabetes can be hard to detect

• The UAE is ranked 15th worldwide, with 18.98 % of the UAE population are living with diabetes

(For more information visit www.Diabetesuae.ae)