Qatar University Test Students and Staff for Diabetes

Doha, November 30 (QNA) - Qatar University (QU) screened and tested more than 200 students and staff for diabetes at a three-day campaign as part of Action on Diabetes (AOD) a public-private partnership initiated and funded by Maersk Oil Qatar. The campaign is part of AODs major workplace diabetes screening programme and it marks Qatar Universitys participation in World Diabetes Day activities. Students visited the screening bus at QUs College of Arts and Sciences. A full range of testing equipment on board enables screening of blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure. QU's College of Arts and Sciences Health & Sciences Department Head Dr Asma Al Thani said, "It was great to see so many people visit the bus to get screened. We hope that everyone tested also gained the advice and support needed to make positive, healthy changes to their change their lifestyles to prevent diabetes." Maersk Oil Qatar Deputy Managing Director Sheikh Faisal Al Thani said, "Action on Diabetes is one of our social investment programmes. It is Maersk Oil Qatar's commitment to deliver long-lasting benefits to people of Qatar. Early detection for diabetes is vital to allow diabetes to be properly managed and complications prevented and we are very grateful to Qatar University for helping to combat diabetes." Action on Diabetes Senior Project Manager Herluf Nis Thomsen said, "It is very important for us to continue raising awareness on diabetes. We will continue to visit some of Qatars largest organisations throughout this year and next, to seed behaviour change amongst the local community and tackle diabetes together." AOD educates people on diabetes and those at risk on the contributing factors, empowering them to manage the condition and prevent it through early detection. (QNA)