The Unite for Diabetes Ring of Hope has been set up in the mall’s China Court. For every Dh10 donated, a small blue circle will be added to a bigger skeletal circle to mark the donation over the next five days to set the record.

The campaign was inaugurated by Nasser Al Budoor (Assistant Undersecretary, Director of Health Minister Office and Director, International Health Affairs) while UAE soccer stars Adil Abdul-Aziz and Ismail Al Hammadi from Al Ahli and Issa Ali and Majed Nasser from Al Wasl clubs were also present.

This year’s campaign will focus on emerging cases of diabetes among children, adolescents and young professionals in the UAE.

“Dubai’s new generation has a different set of lifestyle challenges than the ones faced by their predecessors and many experts believe that these have contributed to rising incidences of diabetes in children, adolescents and young professionals,” said Marc Jones, Marketing Manager, Ibn Battuta Mall.

During the week starting November 10-15, customers can enjoy a wide range of activities that promote a healthy lifestyle. The cost for the various activities is Dh10 with all proceeds going to a government associated diabetic fund.

“Diabetes is on the rise due to serious environmental and genetic conditions,” said Dr Suresh Menon, Specialist Internal Medicine, Jebel Ali Hospital.

“Making an effort to do exercises like walking, climbing stairs, doing household chores along with diet control measures, will assist in the prevention and reduction of the disease,” he said.

Activities that are lined up include: Penalty Shoot-Out with the well-known faces from the city’s soccer clubs making an appearance; Bharat Thakur’s Artistic Yoga and Jebel Ali Hospital offering free diabetes tests and counsel on diet, health and lifestyle. The booths will also be compiling data as part of a study to be published next year called Fitness First Fitness Challenge.

Sugoi will be holding 
sushi sampling sessions for one hour each day.

There will be beach-style workouts with a surf simulator, the Arts Corner — ‘Inspired by Diabetes’, a 
collaboration between Eli Lilly and the International Diabetes Federation’s Unite for Diabetes.

I’s a global art competition that aims to express how the disease can impact live. Al Ain Water will be giving free samples of its sodium-fortified water.

reality check

õ Diabetes affects 246 million people worldwide and is expected to affect some 380 million by 2025

õ Each year another seven million people develop diabetes

õ Every 10 seconds a person dies of diabetes-related causes. Every 10 seconds, two people develop diabetes

õ Seven of the 10 countries with the highest number of people living with diabetes are in the developing world

õ Some 70,000 children aged 14 or less develop Type 1 diabetes annually

(Statistics courtesy: Dr Suresh Menon, Specialist Physician, Jebel Ali Hospital, and International Diabetes Federation)

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