The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) revealed that it plans to expand the Dubai Diabetes Center’s facilities and services to increase its patient capacity and add more specialties related to complications to diabetes.

Dr. Muhammad Hamed Farooqi, Director and Consultant Endocrinologist of the Dubai Diabetes Center said the center will re-design its current premises to add clinical space and specialties.

"As part of the expansions, we plan to add specialties related to complications to diabetes such as nephrology. We also look forward to increasing our podiatry services,"

Dr. Farooqi said this will allow patients to receive all the diabetes –related services for subspecialty care under one roof instead of going elsewhere which has been a request from the patients for some time..

He said this will add additional services to the Center, which currently includes endocrinologists, diabetes nurse specialists, diabetes dietitian specialists, podiatrists, mental health counselor, physiotherapists, retinal photographers, part time ophthalmologist as well as support services, which include, pharmacy, gym and a phlebotomy facility (blood draw).

Providing quality care to patients with Diabetes is essential especially after a survey conducted by DHA’s Dubai Hospital revealed that the total prevalence of Diabetes amongst Emiratis in Dubai is 19 per cent, while the total of undiagnosed diabetes cases of Emiratis is 11 percent and the rate of pre-diabetic Emiratis is 18.6 per cent.