Challenges of the UAE Health Care System The Ministry of Health (MOH) and its great efforts to provide good health services have developed the health care system of the UAE throughout the years. Nowadays, the UAE has a high standard in both of public and private health care facilities. Also, it has one of the most developed health care sectors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. However, the UAE health care system is still facing some problems and challenges such as, the shortage of doctors and hospital beds. The prevalence of some common diseases in the UAE like the diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension is a very serious problem, too. In the following paragraphs, I will show why they are considered as challenges to the …show more content…
It is a serious disease in which the body cannot control the amount of sugar or glucose in the blood because it doesn’t have enough insulin. In 2000, WHO reported that 13.5% of the UAE population was diabetic (WHO, 2010). Nowadays, the UAE is the second highest country in the proportion of diabetes rate in the world (Grant, Katherine, & Jason, 2013). The main reason behind this large percentage of diabetes in UAE is the people’s unhealthy lifestyle such as, eating fast food and lack of exercise. ‘More than 300,000 people in the UAE have diabetes but do not know that they have the condition’ (Bell, 2013). Undiagnosed diabetes can cause many serious problems such as, cardiovascular diseases, kidney deterioration, leg amputation and blindness (Bell, 2013). Hypertension is another health problem that can be caused by diabetes. Patients who have diabetes are susceptible to hypertension more than others. The high blood pressure affects the function of the heart and vessels, which makes it a major factor of the cardiovascular diseases. In the UAE, the hypertension is known as “silent killer” because of the high percentage of Emirati citizens who suffer from hypertension, which is estimated to be about 36.6% (Saberi,
The prevalence of diabetes according to the CDC is 26 million Americans currently diagnosed with diabetes, 79 million with pre-diabetes, and 7 million unaware they have diabetes.1 Diabetes is currently more prevalent in the western countries due to physical inactivity and obesity, but as more Eastern countries develop the western lifestyle it becomes an increasing worldwide epidemic.1 The risk for developing type 2 diabetes increases with age (especially after age 40), but is increasing most rapidly in the adolescent and young generation.1 It is therefore critical that education as well as drug therapies are implemented to decrease the rising prevalence of this illness.
Diabetes is a disease in which a person’s body in unable to make or utilize insulin properly which affects blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas, which helps to regulate glucose (sugar) levels, break down carbohydrates and fats, and is essential to produce the body’s energy. The CDC (2013) offers reliable insight, summarized here, into the different types of diabetes, some causes, and health complications that may arise from the disease.
“In 2012 diabetes was the direct cause of 1.5 million deaths. More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries” (WHO, 2014). Factors that affect death caused by diabetes are lack of access to proper care and medications such as insulin and blood pressure pills which increases the chances of patients acquiring diabetes (Lipska, 2014). The Diabetes International Federation predicts an increase of 205 million more by the year 2035. They also stated that 1 out of 2 people worldwide does not even know they have the disease
The purpose of this study is to research the disease Type 2 Diabetes and to discover whether it is being effectively treated and prevented in Merced County, California. According to the National Institutes of Health, Diabetes Mellitus is “a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there are high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. It is also the most common form of Diabetes”.1 Furthermore, there are many risk and lifestyle factors associated with this disease, but the most prevalent are; obesity (#1 risk factor), sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, family history and genetics, increased age, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and a history of gestational diabetes.2 The long term complications of having type 2 diabetes can include but are not limited to; eye problems (cataracts and glaucoma), foot problems (neuropathy/ nerve damage), skin problems (infections), high blood pressure (which raises your risk for heart attack, stroke, eye problems and kidney disease), hearing loss, oral health, mental health and early death.3
Diabetes and uncontrolled sugar levels is now the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and the number one cause of adult onset blindness, lower limb amputations and kidney failure (healthy people citation). Additionally, those diagnosed diabetes have an amplified risk of having a heart attack and an overall increased mortality rate, both of which are proportional to 1.8 times greater than those not afflicted with diabetes (Healthy people). Obviously, without proper glycemic control, these number can be a much higher ratio; consequently, it is imperative proper health promotion measures are
Diabetes affects 18.2 million people in the United States. It is often referred to by doctors as diabetes mellitus and described as, “… a metabolic disease in which the person has high blood sugar …” (Collazo- Clavell et all. 2009), either because the insulin is inadequate or the body’s cells don’t respond well to the insulin. The health and economic consequences of diabetes are considerable. The majority of people that have diabetes live in low and middle income countries, where the prevalence of the disease is high. There are three types of diabetes that are called type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Although diabetes is a disorder, it can lead to other diseases such as heart attack, kidney failure or death. A person that has diabetes has to maintain a healthy lifestyle, by eating the right diet, controlling their blood sugar level, and be optimistic.
The main purpose of this article is to inform the readers about diabetes and ways to deal with/ prevent it.
One of the biggest conditions that have plagued not only my family but most of American is type 2 diabetes. Unlike type 1, this type of diabetes isn’t hereditary and can develop in anyone. WebMD states, “either their pancreas does not make enough insulin or the body cannot use the insulin well enough. This is called insulin resistance” to describe what occurs in individuals with this type of disease (WebMD). Insulin—which is used in our bodies to regulate and process carbohydrates, fats, and sugars—is either lacking in their bodies or is not being used properly this causes a buildup of glucose in their bodies. According to WebMD this can damage to the body as the sugar levels can damage a person’s heart, kidneys, and other organs or even blocking arteries leading to a heart attack (WebMD). Another thing that may occur is a diabetic coma in which the individual becomes too dehydrated because of the sugar and enters a coma. Personally, in my family many have Type 2 diabetes like my father...
Type 2 diabetes is the common form of diabetes that some problems cause blood sugar levels rise higher than normal. Patients with type 2 diabetes, their bodies make the insulin needed to convert glucose or blood sugar into energy, but insulin isn’t use inefficiency. Glucose then build up in their bloodstream and can choke off small blood vessels leading to blindness, kidney failure, amputation. It is difficult to manage because taking blood sugar counts four times a day, monitoring diet, staying productive and engaged. People lived in poverty and under stress would have higher risk to have diabetes.
Diabetes Mellitus is the seventh leading cause of death, blindness and amputation in the United States. Diabetes is not categorized as one single disease but a group of complications with glucose intolerance in common. It is a metabolic disorder characterized as hyperglycemia which results from a decreased insulin production, secretion and usage. Diabetes also increases the risk of renal disease, heart disease, vascular disease, neuropathy, retinopathy and cerebral vascular accidents. Regular exercise and healthy eating play an important role in the prevention of diabetes mellitus.
Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders which is characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency or resistance or both reasons. (1) According to that diabetes mellitus can be divided as type I and type II. This is common and its incidence is rising, 171 million people had diabetes in 2000 it is expected this condition to be doubled in 2030. It is spread in all the countries and therefore has become a major burden upon healthcare facilities. (2)
To achieve vision 2030, health sector is a key pillar through provision of accessible, quality and relevant health services to have a healthy workforce. Increasing allocation of resources, improvement in health personnel and facilities, better health management are among the strides made. However, challenges still exist due to infrastructural constraints, inadequate human resources, increasing cost of medical care, financial constraints, HIV/AIDS Pandemic, increasing non communicable diseases and high poverty levels.
Zimmet, P., K.G. Alberti, and J. Shaw.2001. Global and societal implications of the diabetes epidemic. Nature 414 (December 13): 782-86
In conclusion, diabetes is a serious disease and can be life threatening. With the right research and implementation of new studies diabetes can be reduced among the populations. We as a people need to realize this epidemic and all get together and beat it. Restaurants need to stop putting chemicals and unnecessary fats in their food. Not only diabetics but everyone should educate themselves on what is going in your body when you eat. Also, exercising and getting off the couch, in children, needs to be addressed and that alone would help reduce diabetes in the younger population. I can’t stress enough on education. If you know what you are eating or how you are exercising you protect yourself from poor health and live a great life. Type 2 diabetes can be dwindled down with a conscious individual and group effort.
Achievement is not coming easily. Achievements require energy as well as a good plan and strategy to can achieve it successfully that is what United Arab Emirates (UAE) health care system did. The ambition of the UAE health care system to become one of the favorite destinations for local patients and a center for international medical tourists need high quality and cost-effective procedure and treatment, that is what makes UAE put long-term strategy to achieve this aspiration (WHO, 2009). In order to support the health care system, the UAE government increasingly focused its effort to attract unique high-level health care providers to the UAE. However, despite the strong support of the UAE government, health care providers, still facing major challenges to grow and operate in the UAE (Eid. n.d). There are many challenges faced UAE health care system, but the government and the health care system reject Surrender and still confront challenges without fatigue or boredom from its side.