In keeping with its mission to improve and transform healthcare in Qatar and abroad, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) made a full contribution to November’s Diabetes Awareness Month.  

The Diabetes Awareness Month this November featured two events designed to raise awareness and highlight efforts to prevent the disease through education and healthier lifestyle choices. Activities included the annual Diabetes Walkathon, which took place in Education City’s Oxygen Park. Organized by the Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA), the theme was ‘Protect Your Family’. This reflected the important message that efforts to tackle diabetes start as home, as does encouraging exercise, healthy eating habits and more.

Key members of QBRI were at the Walkathon and a similar event held at Mall of Qatar to highlight current and future areas of research in the field of diabetes. Activities targeted young children and their parents, where children were involved in fun activities aimed at promoting healthy food and highlighting the dangers of fast food. Parents were involved in an awareness talk with QBRI researchers who highlighted how following a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risks of diabetes.

QBRI’s research efforts aim to understand the social and molecular causes of diabetes as well as the development of novel innovative research in the fields of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for this global health concern. Social media also provided an important platform for QBRI’s contribution to Diabetes Awareness Month. Over the course of November, HBKU’s social media followers were invited to separate fact from fiction in a series of posts that tested their knowledge of diabetes. 

Speaking after Diabetes Awareness Month, Dr. Omar El Agnaf, executive director, QBRI, said: “Diabetes is a globally prevalent problem, but it is also very relevant to our region. QBRI’s Diabetes Research Center (DRC) works hard to build Qatar’s knowledge of the causes and risk factors associated with diabetes. The Center is also focused on identifying and developing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment options for use in Qatar and abroad. We’re grateful to QDA for providing us with a regular opportunity to highlight the current state and future trajectory of our research activities.”

For more information on the work of Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) please visit qbri.hbku.edu.qa