KUWAIT CITY, May 15: The Swiss Embassy in Kuwait, in cooperation with the Kuwaiti-Swiss Business Platform, organized a scientific conference entitled “Diabetes Research: An International Partnership” at the residence of Swiss Ambassador Tiziano Balmelli. A group of experts and researchers from Switzerland and Kuwait attended the conference to discuss developments in diabetes research and strengthen scientific cooperation to curb its spread. During the conference, Dr. Abdullah Al-Kandari revealed that the percentage of people with diabetes in Kuwait has reached 20 percent and is expected to reach 30 percent by 2050 -- up from only seven percent in the 1990s. He warned about the accelerating spread of the disease, especially among those over the age of 60, as about two-thirds of this age group is affected. He attributed the increase to unhealthy lifestyle, including inactivity, poor diet and smoking. He stressed the need to adopt effective prevention methods like regular exercise and a healthy diet. He also recommended that everyone aged 40 or 45 should undergo an annual test for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) or fasting blood sugar.

Regarding treatment methods, Al-Kandari stated that traditional medicine has been proven effective, but he was quick to underscore the need to follow doctors’ recommendations and prescribed medications, rather than relying on alternative medicine as the primary option. Medical Director of Dasman Diabetes Institute Dr. Ebaa Ozeri gave a presentation on the institute’s ongoing research projects, affirming the fruitful collaboration with the Kuwaiti Danish Dairy Company (KDD). Executive Manager of Research and Innovation at KDD Wolfram Alderson shed light on the efforts of the company to develop nutritional products that support diabetes control in collaboration with the institute.

Professor Pedro Marques-Vidal announced a collaborative project between the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and the institute to study genetic factors and their impact on the effectiveness of treatments. He is hoping that this collaboration will expand to include other medical fields. Balmelli expressed his satisfaction with the level of existing cooperation. “We are not just promoting improved management of diabetes, but also the effective bilateral cooperation between research institutions in both countries, such as Dasman Diabetes Institute, KISR, and the University of Lausanne,” he added. He then emphasized the importance of building lasting institutional partnerships that contribute to providing innovative scientific solutions to common health challenges.

By Fares Al-Abdan
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff