The focus on creating awareness and introducing new treatment methods for diabetes in the Gulf region including Qatar is prominent due to the high prevalence of the condition, says a leading pharmaceutical manufacturer for diabetes care medications and devices.
"We see the GCC region as an important area. Our radars are always on Qatar and the other Gulf countries because of the high increasing number of people with diabetes," Maziar Mike Doustdar, Executive Vice President, International Operations at Novo Nordisk told The Peninsula, on sidelines of a press event held at their headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.
"We take them into consideration in creating awareness about prevention and early detection of diabetes as well as in introducing new medicines and treatment methods," he added.
He also referred to the successful partnership Novo Nordisk had in Qatar with Action on Diabetes in creating awareness about the disease.
Diabetes remains one of Qatar’s largest health issues, with over 16.7 percent of adult Qataris being diagnosed already. Six percent of Qataris have abnormally high sugar levels and are likely to develop diabetes, unless lifestyle modifications are made. If the diabetes challenge is not addressed and lifestyles not modified, as many as a quarter of all Qataris may have diabetes by 2030 according to the International Diabetes Federation.
Further, Doustdar also discussed about the 'Global Diabetes Challenge' during the event. He highlighted on the frisk of 642 million people becoming diabetic by 2040, the high prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes as well as about the importance of creating awareness. It also included about addressing risk factors, early diagnosis, access to care and better outcomes. He also outlined the nature of Novo Nordisk's global operations.
Among all people with diabetes , only 50 percent have been diagnosed, of whom about another 25 percent receive care, 12.5 percent achieve treatment targets and only around six percent of people with diabetes live a life free from diabetes-related complications. Doustdar sees a clear role for their International Operations in providing treatment for those people who need it so that they can live their lives to the full.
"Only around half of the people living with diabetes around the world are diagnosed, and only half of these people receive treatment. we therefore have an obligation and an opportunity to increase awareness and access to care across the world," he said. Novo Nordisk is currently the market leader in diabetes care products , and supplies half of all insulin and holding a 23 percent share of the total diabetes value market.
