Diabetes Day Festival to be held in Riyadh 

(MENAFN - Arab News) The International Diabetes Day Festival 2012 will be held in Ghornata Commercial Center on Nov. 17-18. The event, organized by Batola Company for Organizing International Exhibitions, is entitled "Preventive Alternatives for Diabetic Patients".

Studies show that Saudi Arabia is among the top 10 countries worldwide in regard to rates of diabetes.

The festival aims to educate the community about preventive alternatives as well as the latest therapeutic means provided by health care institutions. In addition, it wishes to motivate the media to participate in raising awareness of this issue. Several activities will be included, such as educational theater, a photo exhibit, and educational corners encompassing pregnancy, children's, and general diabetes corners.

The festival will also offer awards related to therapy/prevention of diabetes with the participation of major hospitals, medical companies and private sector companies.

In May 2012, Dr. Ala Alwan, assistant director general for non-communicable diseases and mental health at the World Health Organization (WHO), reported that the problem of diabetes is already vast and is increasing at an alarming rate in Saudi Arabia.

According to a diabetes awareness survey completed in 10 countries in the Middle East and North Africa last November by Novo Nordisk, a global health care company based in Denmark, diabetes is not viewed here as a serious disease. Of the 3,000 people interviewed, 40 percent of those at risk for diabetes said they considered the condition "benign".

Thirty-seven percent had never been screened or had a blood sugar test.