Take Action on Diabetes - 2nd issue

Action TAKE

LIVE A HEALTHY LIFE

ON DIABETES

ISSUE 2 | JUNE 2015

Tackling diabetes as a team

Meet the Al Wakra diabetes care professionals

KNOW YOUR CARBS

Sugar, starch and fibre

LIVE LONGER

Love aerobics with all your heart

Use the QR code to view the magazine online.

YOUR FREE COPY

TASTE SENSATIONS

Try our chicken biryani

Submit your own recipe

Live a healthy life AN ACTION ON DIABETES CAMPAIGN TO BRING IMPORTANT HEALTH REMINDERS FOR MANAGING DIABETES TO PATIENTS AT LOCAL HEALTHCARE CENTRES. FREE MAGAZINE

POSTERS

Action TAKE

ON DIABETES

Look out for key messages on diabetes in the magazine, on posters and via digital screens in your diabetes centres patient waiting areas.

A HEALTHY LIFE GET LIVE YOUR FREE COPY NOW!

DON’T SMOKE SMOKING IS A ESPECIALLY A HEALTH HAZARD FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES

ISSUE 1 | NOVEMBER 2014

SMOKING INCREASES YOUR RISK OF DEVELOPING SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS

LOW BLOOD SUGAR SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

WALK YOURSELF FIT! Need inspiration?

Look inside.

GET THE FACTS Your feet and diabetes

EAT MORE FIBRE The ancient artichoke, the heart of goodness

&

5 Fibre rich foods

YOUR FREE COPY Use the QR code to view the magazine online.

I choose to live well with diabetes.

Abdul Redha talks about living with diabetes

www.action-on-diabetes.qa

www.action-on-diabetes.qa

This information is not designed to replace the advice of a healthcare professional. Please consult your doctor or nurse if you have any questions or concerns about managing your diabetes.

This information is not designed to replace the advice of a healthcare professional. Please consult your doctor or nurse if you have any questions or concerns about managing your diabetes.

Sign-up online to get the next issue

GET YOUR FREE COPY NOW!

in your inbox.

www.aodnews.com/magazine

MOVE MORE

GET YOUR FREE COPY NOW!

REGULAR EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT FOR GOOD HEALTH AND SUCCESSFUL DIABETES MANAGEMENT

EAT RIGHT

A BALANCED DIET IS IMPORTANT FOR CONTROLLING YOUR DIABETES

GET 30 MINUTES OF EXERCISE EACH DAY

VIDEO

www.action-on-diabetes.qa

This information is not designed to replace the advice of a healthcare professional. Please consult your doctor or nurse if you have any questions or concerns about managing your diabetes.

Use the QR code to watch the Miss Sugar: What is Diabetes cartoon on YouTube.

www.action-on-diabetes.qa

This information is not designed to replace the advice of a healthcare professional. Please consult your doctor or nurse if you have any questions or concerns about managing your diabetes.

Our goal with this campaign is to support people with diabetes to live the best life they can.

Herluf Nis Thomsen Senior Project Manager, Action on Diabetes

Action on Diabetes: SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER Herluf Nis Thomsen ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER Adham Salem Published in association with Action on Diabetes and our partners the Supreme Council of Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar Diabetes Association-Qatar Foundation, Maersk Oil and Novo Nordisk. Published by Last Mile, Denmark ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Craig Ludwig EDITOR Nicole McCreedy ART DIRECTOR Natasha Johnson Copyright© Action on Diabetes. All rights reserved. While all precautions have been taken to ensure accuracy of information, neither the editor and publisher, nor Last Mile can be held liable for inaccuracies, injury or damage that may arise.

Action TAKE

ON DIABETES

What’s in this issue 2 3 4 5

6

6

13

10 12

13 17

22 COVER

PHOTOGRAPHER SARAH CORPUZ SANCHEZ COVER PROFILE DR. IBRAHIM TREKI SHOT ON LOCATION AL WAKRA HOSPITAL

What’s coming up?

Find out what diabetes events to expect.

Editors’ letter This issue is about self-management. Read what our Editors have to say.

Did you know?

Myth or fact? Get the right answer here.

Ask the experts You asked. We answered.

Feature Tackling diabetes as a team Achieving targets together—the healthcare team at the National Diabetes Centre at Al Wakra Hospital talk about patient care.

A new National Diabetes Care Centre is open at Al Wakra hospital.

Aerobic exercise is good for your heart.

Find out what the benefits are in the Move More section.

Diabetes community

Your health How diabetes can affect the body Complications are summed up.

The diabetes ABCs Speak the language.

Move more & Eat right Make your heart pump faster Aerobic exercise: do’s and dont’s.

Know your carbs Different kinds of carbohydrates explained.

Type 1 diabetes Interview: Dhabya Mohammed Al-Mannai Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at seventeen, Dhabya tells us how she has learned to cope.

SUBSCRIBE TO TAKE ACTION ON DIABETES Visit www.aodnews.com/magazine/ to subscribe and receive an email with a link to every new issue.

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DIABETES COMMUNITY

What’s coming up?

CHECK OUT SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. QDA YOUTH DIABETES PREVENTION CAMP

WE ARE HEALTHY KIDS

21-23 May 2015 The Qatar Diabetes Association will host a Diabetes Prevention Camp for youth who are at risk of developing diabetes due to a family history of diabetes coupled with obesity.

Each year the Supreme Council of Health implements the We Are Healthy Kids programme in schools to raise awareness among students and educate them on how to adopt healthy daily lifestyle habits.

RAMADAN HELPLINE

Games to play online

June/July 2015

Several online games have been developed with support from Action on Diabetes. The games reinforce key messages on health learnt in school.

For questions or enquiries related to diabetes during Ramadan, contact the following help line telephone numbers at these times: 7:30am – 1:00pm Tel: 55274919 (QDA mobile number) 8:00pm – 11:00pm Tel: 55981331 (HMC and PHCC number)

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April/May 2015

There are four games in the ‘Healthy Kids City’ for younger children to play.

While, adolescents can design and build their own superhero character, unlocking more accessories by answering questions on health. Characters can be shared via social media.

What is a QR code?

A QR code is an easy way to access pages on the Internet. It is a shortcut link you can use instead of typing the website URL into your browser.

How does it work?

Download a QR code reader/ scanner application to your smartphone. When you spot a QR code, open the app, place your phone camera over the QR code and snap a ‘photo’. That should take you to the page.

Use the QR code to visit to www. wearehealthykids. com and play games online.

DIABETES COMMUNITY

A word from the editors SELF-MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES

I

t is normal to feel overwhelmed when you are first diagnosed with diabetes.

The good news is that today diabetes can be successfully managed. Equipped with knowledge and determination, you can take control of your diabetes. In fact, learning about diabetes, can lead to positive changes and a healthier life.

The main thing to know is that diabetes is a self-managed condition. That means YOU are in control. This does not mean you are on your own. In this issue we speak to the healthcare team at the newly opened diabetes clinic at the Al Wakra Hospital, which helps patients with diabetes daily to achieve treatment targets (read more on page 6).

This is our second edition of the magazine.

The first issue was published in early

November last year. The goal of the magazine is to be a resource available to support you, your family and friends in this journey of learning to manage your diabetes and live a healthier life (see the move more and eat right sections). We were therefore delighted to receive an email of encouragement from Mr. Abdul Aziz Al Ansari who read a copy of the previous issue at the Al Montaza Health Centre. Your feedback helps us create a magazine that is relevant, useful and interesting for our readers. Keep the comments coming; email us at: magazine@aodnews.com.

Your health is your responsibility. With the holy month of Ramadan around the corner, we advise you to take the necessary precautions and speak to your doctor ahead of time if you plan to fast (see our reader’s question on page 5).

Take care!

Dr. Walaa Fattah Mahmood Al-Chetachi, Dr. Badriya Al Malki (SCH) | Dr.Abdullah Al Hamaq, Katie Nahas (QDA-QF) Manal Musallam Othman, Joanna Butler (HMC) | Dr. Fawziya Ali Khalaf, A. Al-Khalaf, Hilalia Ahmed (PHCC)

Facebook www.facebook.com/actionondiabetes

CONNECT WITH US

Twitter www.twitter.com/action_diabetes YouTube www.youtube.com/user/actionondiabetes Take Action on Diabetes June 2015

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DIABETES COMMUNITY

Did you know?

GET THE LATEST INFORMATION FOR MANAGING Modify your food habits; change your DIABETES HERE. lifestyle, prevent diabetes 2

Biryani

COMMON MYTH Make your biryani healthier by using skinless chicken or lean meat.

Prepare it with vegetable oil instead of using animal fats and add nuts to provide more fiber and healthy fat. Serve with salad.

Ingredients (Serves 6): • 800g skinless chicken chopped • 2 cups rice • 2 onions, sliced • 1 teaspoon biryani spices (as tolerated) • 1 teaspoon salt • Cinnamon sticks • Saffron • 1 cup yogurt • Nuts

People with diabetes need to follow a special diet BUT IN FACT...

People with diabetes can eat the same foods as the rest of their family: normal healthy meals in balanced amounts. Everyone, whether they have diabetes or not, should eat a healthy diet that consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and starchy vegetables, legumes, lean protein foods, and a limited amount of fat, refined sugar and salt. So, if you have diabetes, there’s no need to cook a separate meal from your family.

Method: DIABETES COOKBOOK WITH Mix yogurt, spices and salt. Add chicken pieces and leave mixture for one hour. Cook sliced onions until golden brown; grill the chicken pieces.

HEALTHY LOCAL RECIPES Boil rice in water with cinnamon. Remove rice from water and add 2 tablespoons of

oil; distribute the chicken pieces over a layer of rice and top with a layer of onion slices Hamad Medical Corporation has and nuts. Cover chicken with remaining rice. Add a little saffron to the rice. Simmer until cooked and add hot water as needed. Serve hot. adapted some of our favourite local Nutritional value per cup dishes Calories: 509 to be suitable for individuals Carbohydrates: 45 grams with diabetes.

Download the book Protein: 29 grams for recipes in English or Arabic Fat: 19 grams for Majboos chicken, biryani and thereed.

GLUCOSE BUDDY DIABETES MANAGEMENT APP Need help remembering when to check your blood sugar levels and take your medication? Then Glucose Buddy could be the smartphone application for you. One of the app’s distinct features is the ability to set reminders, which can be tailored to user preference. Glucose Buddy helps users to keep a log of their blood sugar numbers, A1C, activities, carbohydrate intake, and medications. The data can then be easily synchronised online to the Glucose Buddy’s website.

Data can be synced between the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. www.glucosebuddy.com 4

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Use the QR code to download a PDF with recipes or visit the link: www.diabetes.hamad.qa/ en/images/Food_habits_ and_lifestyle_change.pdf

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Ask the Q &A experts

DIABETES COMMUNITY

ARE ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS OKAY TO USE?

To help reduce sugar intake or curb cravings for something sweet, artificial sweeteners can be used instead.

Artificial sweeteners, or sugar substitutes such as aspartame or saccharin, are used to sweeten foods and drinks without adding carbohydrates or calories. That said, many foods and beverages that are sweetened artificially may still contain calories from carbohydrates, CAN I FAST FOR RAMADAN WITH DIABETES? which also causes blood Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the main sugar to rise. Be sure to pillars of Islam, but the Holy Quran specifically exempts read labels carefully so the sick from fasting, especially if fasting might lead to you can keep a close eye harmful consequences for the individual. Patients with on overall carbohydrate diabetes fall under this category because their diabetes intake, keeping in mind may place them at high risk for various complications. the importance of limiting saccharin intake Therefore, it is important to speak to your doctor about in young children whether or not it is safe for you to fast. Your and pregnant doctor will advise you on the diet and medication THE women. plan you should follow while fasting to keep good EXPERTS control of your diabetes.

WE

ASKED

Dr. Samya Al Abdullah senior consultant in family medicine Primary Health Care Corporation.

Dr. Amal Mustafa Adam is the medical coordinator at the Qatar Diabetes Association.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? GET IN TOUCH! Email us at: qatardiabetes@qf.org.qa

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FEATURE

Tackling diabetes as a team 6

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June 2015 Take Action on Diabetes

FEATURE

DIABETES IS A COMPLEX CONDITION AND THERE ARE MANY ASPECTS IN ITS MANAGEMENT. AN ALL-ROUND APPROACH TO DIABETES CARE HAS PROVED TO BE THE WAY FORWARD. ADHAM SALEM AND NICOLE MCCREEDY VISIT THE NEW NATIONAL DIABETES CENTER AT AL WAKRA HOSPITAL TO GET THE INSIDE STORY.

T

The newly opened National Diabetes Center on the ground floor of the Outpatient Department of Al Wakra Hospital provides improved specialised care for patients from the country’s southern region. Patients visiting the morning and afternoon clinics at the center now have easy access to a number of services. These include foot care, counselling and education, dietary advice, blood investigation and pump therapy.

A TEAM EFFORT TO IMPROVE SELF-MANAGEMENT

National Diabetes Center Al Wakra Hospital

A multi-disciplinary approach is employed in caring for patients.

This involves a core team of health specialists from various disciplines that are assigned to each case.

The team provides care based on the individuals needs, taking into account clinical guidelines.

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FEATURE

MEET THE TEAM YOU, THE PATIENT

You are the most important member of your healthcare team.

After all, you are the one who is affected by diabetes and cares for yourself every day. Only you know how you feel and what you’re able to do. And of course, you are the first to notice any problems. Your healthcare team depends on you to talk to them honestly and to tell them how you feel.

Rajae Dughmosh “Our role as diabetes educators is to discuss with our patients everything from diabetes medication, diet and physical activity to monitoring blood sugar levels at home. In educating the patient, we give them the choice to make informed decisions when managing their condition. Using the knowledge and skills they receive here, they can make educated choices about their medication and treatment.”

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DIABETES EDUCATOR NURSE This is a registered nurse who has additional training in caring for and teaching people about diabetes.

Diabetes Educator Nurses will see patients one-on-one and conduct regular diabetes group self-management classes. By reflecting on their feelings and experiences within the group, patients are able to learn from each other, which is helpful in the educational process.

Suha Masend Albhateeb “I have been a nurse for twelve years, but decided to specialise as a diabetes educator because I could see that there are a growing number of patients with diabetes and that there is a need to have skilled nursing staff who are specially trained.”

Diabetes is not the patient’s fault, but it is his/her responsibility.

FEATURE

ENDOCRINOLOGIST An endocrinologist is a doctor who specialises in treating diabetes and other diseases of the ‘endocrine system’ — the body’s system of glands that produce hormones to control the way the body works. The pancreas is part of the endocrine system.

Dr. Ibrahim Treki “A patient has to want to make a change in their life; we cannot do it for them. They have to bring the logbook, come to the appointments and comply with the treatment. Complications will not be avoided unless the patient is 100% committed to changing any unhealthy habits, even if we give them medications. The patient has to do their part as well.”

DIETICIAN

Of all the people with newly diagnosed diabetes, 50% will have some sort of complications.

PODIATRIST This health professional is trained to treat feet and problems of the lower legs. The podiatrist will check the blood flow, nerve function and overall condition of your feet.

Sergio Sardon Diabetes might lead to severe foot complications. A patient with no history of foot problems should come for a check-up annually. Patient’s with peripheral neuropathy (lack of feeling in the feet) should, if there are no other problems, receive followedup care every three months.

A dietician helps evaluate your nutritional needs.

Factors considered are: current weight and height, BMI and body composition, target weight, physical activity level, current caloric intake, age, health status, medications in use, if any, and for women whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Ahmed Yousef Alomari “Quality, quantity as well as consistency in meal timing and frequency help control diabetes.

Eat three main meals and snacks, as advised by your dietician, to control your blood sugar.”

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YOUR HEALTH

HOW DIABETES CAN AFFECT THE BODY Blood sugar levels that are not well controlled can cause serious harm to your health1. If you have too much sugar in your blood (high blood sugar) for too long, it can damage your organs and you may develop diabetes complications.

This is why diabetes needs to be diagnosed

early in individuals and well treated before it is too late. Maintaining blood glucose levels, blood pressure, and cholesterol at or close to normal levels can help delay or prevent diabetes complications.

Therefore people with diabetes need regular monitoring.

NERVES

Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves throughout the body when blood glucose and blood pressure are too high. This can lead to problems with digestion and erectile dysfunction.

LEGS

Damaged nerves and blood vessels can cause poor circulation in feet and legs, and in some severe cases, this may lead to limb amputation.

FEET

Nerve damage can lead to pain, tingling, and loss of feeling. Loss of feeling is particularly dangerous because it can allow injuries to go unnoticed, leading to serious infections and possible amputations. People with diabetes carry a risk of amputation 25 times greater than that of people without diabetes 2.

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YOUR HEALTH

BRAIN

People with diabetes are two to four times more likely to suffer a stroke than people who do not suffer from diabetes2.

EYES

Most people with diabetes will develop some form of eye disease. Blurred vision, caused by high blood sugar, high blood pressure and poorly controlled diabetes, can lead to blindness. This is the first most common complication for diabetes patients in Qatar3.

TEETH AND GUMS

Diabetes may weaken your mouth’s germfighting powers. High blood sugar levels can help the gum disease get worse. At the same time, gum disease can make diabetes harder to control. Gum disease is often painless. You may not even know you have it until you have some serious damage. Regular dentist visits are your best weapon.

HEART

Heart disease is the number one killer of people with diabetes. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar and other risk factors increase the risk of developing heart disease.

KIDNEYS

High blood sugar can cause kidney damage and cause them to fail. Failing kidneys lose their ability to filter out waste products, resulting in kidney disease and dialysis.

Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure.

This is the second most common complication for diabetes patients in Qatar3.

1.

American Diabetes Association. Complications.

2.

International Diabetes Federation. Complications of diabetes.

3.

American Heart AssociationÂŽ. Cardiovascular Disease & Diabetes.

4.

Zirie, M.A., Yousef, M.F., & Al Mashaly, A. (2003). Complications of diabetes mellitus among patients attending outpatient clinics in Qatar. Qatar Medical Journal, 12(2), 129-132.

Half the patients who need kidney dialysis and a third of those being admitted to cardiac units have diabetes. Diabetes is the main cause of loss of vision and 70% of non-traumatic limb amputations are as a result of diabetes.

The important thing to understand with diabetes is that if you have good control of your blood sugar levels, then you can avoid these problems to your health.

At the same time you need to check your weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels while following a balanced diet, not smoking tobacco and exercising regularly.

Doing these things altogether can prevent diabetes from becoming worse and complications developing.

Dr Mahmoud Zirie is the head of the Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit at Hamad General Hospital.

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YOUR HEALTH

The diabetes

ABCs

DIABETES CAN BE OVERWHELMING, SO START WITH THE BASICS. AFTER ALL, YOU CAN’T MANAGE WHAT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND. HERE ARE SOME KEY TERMS TO GET YOU STARTED.

A1C

The A1C is a blood test that measures the percentage of haemoglobin (the oxygencarrying protein in your red blood cells) coated with sugar.

It measures your average blood glucose (sugar) level over the past two to three months.

Blood pressure Blood pressure is the force of blood flow in your blood vessels.

A blood pressure test reveals two readings.

Cholesterol

There are several types of cholesterol, two of which are important for people with diabetes to monitor.

Low-density chol (LDL) This is bad cholesterol and can lead to the build up of plaque on blood vessel walls, which can cause a heart attack or stroke.

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) This is good cholesterol and protects against heart disease.

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140 90

DIASTOLIC PRESSURE

mmHg

SYSTOLIC PRESSURE

(millimetres of mercury)

DIASTOLIC PRESSURE: Measures the pressure when your blood vessels relax between heartbeats.

SYSTOLIC PRESSURE: Measures the pressure as the heart beats and pushes blood through the blood vessels.

MOVE MORE

MAKE YOUR HEART PUMP FASTER YOUR HEART IS A MUSCLE THAT GETS STRONGER AND HEALTHIER IF YOU LEAD AN ACTIVE LIFE. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START EXERCISING, AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AN ATHLETE TO BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE.

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MOVE MORE

AEROBIC EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR THE HEART Aerobic exercise has the most benefits for your heart. This type of exercise strengthens the heart and lungs and improves the body’s ability to use oxygen. Over time, aerobic exercise can help decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, improves your breathing and allows blood vessels to be more supple (or less stiff) making it less likely for fat to accumulate and clog up the vessels. It also builds muscle strength, reduces body fat, increases energy levels and improves circulation.

GET MOVING

Also known as cardiovascular training, aerobic exercise is physical activity for more than a few minutes at a time. You should feel your breathing becomes faster, your heart rate increases and your major muscles work over time. The good news is that you have quite a few choices when it comes to aerobic exercise. Dancing, swimming, jogging, brisk walking, hiking, biking, climbing steps, and using equipment at the gym like the treadmill or rowing machine are all examples of aerobic exercises.

Physical activity is anything that makes you move your body and burn calories. Being physically active can lower many heart disease risk factors such as weight gain, and it also helps control your blood sugar levels.

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MOVE MORE

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Two out of three people with diabetes die of heart disease or a stroke. Diabetes alone is a very serious risk factor for heart disease, just like smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

The most important thing about doing aerobic exercise is to do it regularly. Aerobic exercise helps the body process blood sugar levels, but then it needs to be done on a regular basis to get the longterm benefits. The State of Qatar National Guidelines recommends 30 minutes of exercise a day, at least 5 days a week. Begin with 10 minutes of physical activity per session. As your fitness improves, increase gradually to 30 minutes per day. You can do three 10-minute intervals at different times during the day.

SAFETY TIPS Speak to your doctor

Before beginning a demanding exercise programme go for a checkup with your doctor. Patients who are taking medications that lower blood glucose, particularly insulin, should take special precautions before starting a workout programme.

Check blood sugar levels

During exercise blood sugar levels can go up and down.

Monitor blood sugar levels carefully before, during and after workouts. Be aware that low blood sugar can happen and needs to be treated quickly. Keep a sugary drink or snacks to help stabilise blood sugar levels if needed.

Take care of your feet

Wear good, protective footwear to help avoid injuries and wounds to the feet. Examine your feet after exercise to make sure that there are no blisters or sores. White socks are also a good idea as they will easily show up blood spots.

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MOVE MORE

BOOT CAMP Get active with a group

STRUGGLING TO COMMIT TO A REGULAR EXERCISE ROUTINE? BOOT CAMP MAY GIVE YOU THE MOTIVATION YOU NEED. Classes are a one-hour long, group fitness session lead by a qualified personal trainer. Expect an intense mix of aerobic and strength exercises that include pullups, pushups, lunges and crunches, as well as drills and sprints.

In essence, a boot camp workout is a type of interval training – bursts of intense activity followed by lighter exercises.

SCHEDULE: Sheraton Park Find us: meet in the Sheraton main car park.

When: Monday and Wedsnesday: 6:00 -7:00pm Education City Find us: at the main student centre sports hall.

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When: Monday and Wednesday: 6:30 - 7:30pm GI-Jane – Ladies morning bootcamp Find us: Dahl Al Hamman family park near Landmark mall.

When: Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday: 8:00 - 9:00am.

Doha British School – South Doha Find us: At the Doha British school.

When: Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday: 6:00 - 7:00pm.

Museum of Islamic Art park Find us: in the parking lot.

Sessions sometimes take place in the hills opposite

the park.

When: Sunday and Tuesday: 6:30 to 7:30pm StrongBox West Bay Find us: StrongBox fitness gym - trainging classes.

When: Morning and evening.

Schedule: www. strongboxqatar.com/ classes-chedule.

SIGN UP Individuals can sign up at any time of the month to join the group sessions that are being held at various locations around Doha.

Cost: Four-week programme (12 consecutive sessions) is QAR 800 (per individual) Tel: 3000 8974 or email info@bootcampqatar.com www.bootcampqatar.com

MOVE EAT RIGHT MORE

Know your CARBS Breads, potatoes, pasta, rice, beans and pulses, as well as certain fruits, some vegetables, and some dairy and sugars are foods that are known as carbohydrates (carbs). These types of foods are an essential part of a healthy diet because your body converts them to glucose and your body runs on glucose.

A diet that maintains a moderate amount of carbohydrate – high in fibre – coupled with regular monitoring of blood sugar levels is recommended to achieve better control of diabetes.

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EAT RIGHT

kinds of carbs There are three groups of carbohydrates (carbs) – sugars, starches and fibres – are all made from molecules of sugar. They can be simple or complex. Sugars, for example, are simple while starches and fibre are complex.

SUGAR

Sugar is absorbed into the blood stream very quickly. Some of the most familiar sugars include glucose, lactose, fructose and sucrose.

The latter are natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables.

FIBRE

STARCH

Starches such as bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, peas, corn, beans, and grains, deliver essential vitamins and minerals. They have a major effect on blood sugar. Peas and beans are also good sources of protein and fibre. Avoid refined grains and go with whole grains because only whole grains retain all of the beneficial fibre.

BRAN

GERM

ENDOSPERM

Whole grain (unpolished)

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June 2015 Take Action on Diabetes

Polished grain

Fibre is the part of plant foods such as fruits and vegetables that the body does not digest.

When you consume dietary fibre, most of it passes through the intestines and is not absorbed by the body.

Eating fibre makes you feel full and satisfied after eating plus it helps your body to digest food. Good sources of fibre include beans and legumes, whole grains such whole grain products as well as nuts.

MOVE EAT RIGHT MORE

CHICKEN BIRYANI

e ng tim Cooki s ute 25 min

Serves 6 people Ingredients • 800g skinless chicken chopped • 2 cups rice • 2 onions, sliced • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 teaspoon biryani spices (as tolerated) • 1 teaspoon salt • Cinnamon sticks • Saffron • 1 cup yogurt • Nuts

Send us your special recipe!

One lucky reader will have a diabetes-friendly version of their recipe published in the next issue.

Instructions 1. Mix yogurt, spices and salt.

Add chicken pieces and leave mixture for one hour.

2. Cook sliced onions until golden brown; grill the chicken pieces.

3. Boil rice in water with cinnamon. Remove rice from water and add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

4. Place the chicken pieces over a layer of rice and top with a layer of onion slices and nuts.

5. Cover chicken with remaining rice.

6. Add a little saffron to the rice. Simmer until cooked and add hot water as needed. Serve hot.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS

Serving: 1 cup or 250 grams Calories: 509 Carbohydrates: 45 grams Protein: 29 grams Fat: 19 grams Recipe courtesy of Hamad Medical Corporation.

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TYPE 1 DIABETES

DAY 1

DAY 2

2015 AL BAWASIL CAMP EACH YEAR THE QATAR DIABETES ASSOCIATION-QATAR FOUNDATION HOSTS A CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH TYPE 1 DIABETES FROM THE MIDDLE EAST REGION. PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE SIX-DAY CAMP.

DAY 3

DAY 6 Use the QR code to view a video from the week.

DAY 4

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DAY 5

TYPE MOVE 1 DIABETES MORE

I am a stronger person today because of my diabetes

SAYS TWENTY-THREE YEAR OLD DHABYA MOHAMMED AL-MANNAI, A FINANCE GRADUATE WORKING AT MAERSK OIL. SHE TELLS US HOW SHE HAS LEARNT TO LIVE WITH DIABETES. Dhabya Al-Mannai was admitted to hospital immediately after a regular visit to her doctor at the age of seventeen because of type 1 diabetes. None of Dhabya’s relatives have type 1 diabetes and she had very little knowledge about the condition when she was first diagnosed.

She says, “I really had no idea how to deal with or control my type 1 diabetes at first. I felt lost.”

Making the decision to be positive Late one night Dhabya realised that she had to find a way around her situation. “I remember it was around 2am in the morning when I had injected myself with insulin and I was fighting to stay awake until I could tell the insulin was being processed in my body.” Feeling sorry for herself, she realised that she had to do better. “I decided then to be positive and find a way to be at peace with my diabetes,” she says.

adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Hearing from other people who were in the same situation helped her to learn to manage her blood sugar levels.

Control is key for managing diabetes “The key word I always attach to my daily situation is ‘control’,” she says, “When you don’t control yourself you lose the battle.” She believes having diabetes and taking responsibility for her health has definitely made her a stronger person.

Living with diabetes “My health comes first. I am also trying through my experience, and how I cope with problems, to be a role model for children younger than myself. I am religious and do things I love like dancing and listening to music.

My food choices are healthier; I eat more vegetables. I also check my carbohydrate intake and blood sugar levels. But most importantly I try to do the things I love.”

Support from others Dhabya’s doctor had recommended that she join a support group where she could meet other Take Action on Diabetes June 2015

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PROMOTION

Visit to Seha disease management member support call centre THE SEHA DIABETES MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME CALL CENTRE HAS SEVENTEEN STAFF NURSES AND TWO DIETICIANS WHO BETWEEN THEM SPEAK TO MORE THAN 5,000 PATIENTS WITH DIABETES REGULARLY. Carole Johnson, Chief Nurse based at the call centre, shares her insight into the operation.

Why telephone communication works The benefit of telephone communication is that we have access to ‘hard-to-reach’ patients in their homes and that there is no time limitation on the interaction. Patients have the opportunity to call a nurse after the appointment with their provider and ask for clarification. We also help patients to prepare for their appointment with their healthcare provider.

The point is to educate patients Our role is not to suggest treatment or to recommend changes to any treatment.

We only advise patients on best practices so that they can go and have those conversations with their healthcare provider.

Support for healthcare providers If you have a long-term condition, the quality of the relationship you have with your healthcare provider is key. We remind patients of the importance and benefit of following their healthcare provider’s plan and having a good structured relationship where they communicate with their provider.

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June 2015 Take Action on Diabetes

“I am a trained nurse with a masters degree in Palliative Care and Pain Management.

Patients I speak to daily over the telephone have psychosocial issues, physical issues, and spiritual issues. To further improve my knowledge and skills, I am in the process of continuing my education with the Diabetes Educator Graduate Certificate Programme from the Michener Institute for Applied Health Sciences”.

Mai Al Rafati, diabetes educator nurse

Tell us about the staff at the programme The call centre is staffed with bilingual male/ female staff who are highly trained nurses with a large collective amount of experience working in the region. They undergo extensive training prior to their first contact with the members on the phone. They are trained in special techniques that allow them to gain the most helpful information from members/patients about their conditions and how they view their health. These nurses are highly experienced also in the areas of keeping members information highly confidential. They also undergo training in how to teach members to understand their own health conditions and how to take control of their health. This results in better health outcomes for the members and also teaches them how to become better consumers of healthcare.

At the call centre we try to identify gaps in knowledge and gaps in care. We explain to patients why it is important to be screened, take their medication and go for check-ups.

MOVE PROMOTION MORE

To enrol, present your Qatar ID to your network provider with details of your GCIS registered residential residence.

DIABETES MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME A CALL CENTRE STAFFED WITH CARE MANAGEMENT NURSES HAS BEEN LAUNCHED TO ASSIST MEMBERS OF THE SEHA SCHEME WHO HAVE DIABETES IN MANAGING THEIR CONDITION. Seha launched the Diabetes Management Programmes in 2014. People with diabetes or women who are pregnant and have diabetes are eligible for these programmes. Seha offers these programmes free of charge to its members in order to help patients manage their conditions better and achieve better health or even a better baby and pregnancy experience. This is done in an organised approach and the programme is intended to support patients’ doctors in the care of the chronic disease. The Seha programmes reach out to members who are identified as being eligible for these interventions. If a member agrees to enrol in the Seha Disease Management programme, then the call centre staff make telephone contact with the member on a continual basis. The purpose of this article is to highlight the call centre and how it functions to help and support members in the programmes.

Each participant of the programme is assigned a personal Arabic-speaking Care Management Nurse. The nurse’s primary role is to: • assess the current level of knowledge to establish gaps in understanding.

• provide general health information to improve health literacy.

• empower by guiding the individual about screening for complications, self-care, immunisations, and concurrence with treatment and medications, including introducing physical activity into daily care.

• refer the patient back to their health care provider when needed.

The Diabetes Management Programme team also includes a dietician to provide support and guidance on nutrition.

More information and updates about Seha are available on: www.seha.qa | facebook.com/SehaQatar | twitter. com/SehaQatar.

Members can also contact the Seha call centre on telephone 800 8800 or visit the customer contact centre on the sixth floor of Amwal Tower in West Bay, Doha.

Take Action on Diabetes June 2015

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LEARN MORE www.action-on-diabetes.qa