Boehringer Ingelheim brings together Kuwait's top experts to address cardiovascular risk and type 2 diabetes management
-The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in adult Kuwaitis is spreading, making it an emergency public health problem. Efforts need to be initiated to address prevention strategies of Type 2 Diabetes.
-Cardiovascular disease may be one of the main causes of death in Type 2 Diabetes Patients
-399,000 cases of diabetes reported in Kuwait during 2015.
Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, in partnership with YIACO Medical Company, recently held a medical forum in Kuwait to address cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes patients. The event included prominent Kuwaiti endocrinologists, cardiologists as well as the company’s senior management.
The medical meeting also served as strong platform for both the Kuwait Cardiac Society and the Kuwait Diabetes Society to discuss holistic new approach to manage type 2 diabetes, which focused on new methods to reduce blood sugar levels and cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients.
There were 399,900 cases of diabetes in Kuwait in 2015, where the number of deaths in adults due to diabetes amounted to 1,142[1]. Kuwait is among the top ten countries with the highest diabetes prevalence rate. Diabetes promises to become a larger public health issue with significant social and economic burden.[2]
According to the WHO’s Multinational Study of Vascular Disease in Diabetes, cardiovascular disease was the most common underlying cause of death, accounting for 52% of deaths in type 2 diabetes.[3]
Dr. Waleed Al Dhahy, Head of Kuwait Diabetes Society, Consultant Endocrinologist at Mubarak Hospital and Program Director of Kuwait Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolism Fellowship Program said, “The treatment module removes excess glucose through the urine by blocking glucose re-absorption in the kidney. With new ways of managing the disease, patients can have a better quality of life. Physical activity is an important component of individuals with type 2 diabetes’ treatment plan. Excersise avoids long-term complications, especially heart problems,” added Al Dhahy.
Professor Mohammad Zubaid, President of Kuwait Cardiac Society, President of Gulf Heart Association and Professor of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University said, “The rapid change of lifestyle in Kuwait has led to striking increase in rates of type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle interventions and adherence to medications are central to disease prevention and management. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in people with type 2 diabetes worldwide and reducing cardiovascular risk, including death, is an essential component of diabetes care.”
“People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of heart disease and stroke. When patients have both hypertension and diabetes, which is a common combination, the risk for cardiovascular disease doubles”. added Professor Zubaid.
Mazen Bachir, Boehringer Ingelheim’s Country Head Gulf Region mentioned that, “Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is a critical life event. At Boehringer Ingelheim, our focus is to provide an innovative approach to managing the disease, and we are building upon our commitment in Kuwait to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them”.
The need to develop innovative solutions supported by research insights has been an ongoing objective across national levels in the region, not only to provide effective, long-term reductions in blood sugar levels and decrease the possibility of developing cardiovascular diseases, but to reflect a comprehensive approach to managing individual lives.
About Boehringer Ingelheim
Innovative medicines for people and animals have for more than 130 years been what the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim stands for. Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the industry’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies and to this day remains family-owned.
Day by day, some 50,000 employees create value through innovation for the three business areas human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing. In 2016, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around 15.9 billion euros. With more than three billion euros, R&D expenditure corresponds to 19.6 per cent of net sales.
Social responsibility comes naturally to Boehringer Ingelheim. That is why the company is involved in social projects, such as the “Making More Health” initiative. Boehringer Ingelheim also actively promotes workforce diversity and benefits from its employees’ different experiences and skills. Furthermore, the focus is on environmental protection and sustainability in everything the company does.
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For more information, please contact:
Sara Shamel
Head of External Communications – Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META)
Boehringer Ingelheim
T: 971 4 4233637
[1] International Diabetes Federation | Kuwait http://www.idf.org/membership/mena/kuwait
[2] IDF MENA | Kuwait Diabetes Society | https://www.idf.org/our-network/regions-members/middle-east-and-north-africa/members/38-kuwait.html?layout=details&mid=109
[3] Mortality and causes of death in the WHO multinational study of vascular diseases in diabetes | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/PL00002934