A survey of pilgrims over 50 years of age has found that a large portion of them are suffering from diabetes, reports Arab News. Sami Hammadi, professor of clinical pharmacology at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah, revealed the findings of the survey during a presentation on the occasion of World Diabetes Day. “The results of the survey showed that 40 per cent of this group were diabetic and that the majority of them were from the Gulf countries,” said Hammadi. “We need to create greater awareness; we have to preach the public because what we tell them is not what they practise at home.” Ahmad Aalam, head of the organising committee of the World Diabetes Day at Umm Al-Qura, said that their event targets medical personnel of both genders who deal with diabetics. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the 246 million diabetic people around the world live in developing countries. Almost 30 per cent of the Saudis are diabetic.
40% OF OLDER PILGRIMS DIABETIC
A survey of pilgrims over 50 years of age has found that a large portion of them are suffering from diabetes, reports Arab News. Sami Hammadi, professor of clinical pharmacology at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah,
