“Qadam Bela Alam”, Foot without pain campaign launches a hospital outreach program

Kuwait Diabetes Society (KDS) launched a hospital outreach program to educate, early spot, and offer full support to help manage diabetes patients suffering form the life-changing condition Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) nerve disease, as a first step in the nationwide “Qadam Bela Alam” Foot without pain campaign in Kuwait.

Highly-trained medical staff from the “Qadam Bela Alam” campaign will be stationed at an activation booth at Al Mubarak Hospital, the first hospital to adopt the concept of holistic management of Diabetes starting from educating diabetes patients about the disease and identifying foot complications to conducting foot examination tests and completing a DPN questionnaire to spot DPN patients.

The patients will  then  be  recommended  to  consult  their  physician  and  modify  their  lifestyle  to  help manage  the  condition  along  with  medications  and  continued  support. Physicians are encouraged to recommend  lifestyle  changes  for  their  patients  such  as  quitting  smoking,  significantly  reducing  sugar intake and exercising regularly. Patients are also encouraged to join a social community to share their experience and learn from experts and fellow patients on the best ways to deal with the condition at “Qadam Bela Alam”

“Qadam Bela Alam” campaign emanated from the urgent need to tackle Peripheral Neuropathy nerve disease amongst diabetes patients and make them aware of its foot complications that could have serious consequences without warning symptoms.

Peripheral Neuropathy is a nerve damaging condition of the lower limbs that affects more than half of diabetics worldwide and causes an average of 54,000 lower-limb amputations globally every year. With approximately 399,000 diabetics in Kuwait, the prevalence of DPN in the country is 39 per cent.

The nationwide campaign stresses on the importance for diabetic patients to understand that diabetic foot problems are often caused by nerve damage and they should visit their doctor regularly for check- ups even if their feet aren’t showing any symptoms. Important to note is that while keeping glucose levels within the normal range is important, it is only one step in the fight against DPN nerve disease.

Warning signs and symptoms of DPN nerve damage include tingling, burning or prickling sensations in the limbs, sharp pains or cramps in the legs, extreme sensitivity to touch, and loss of balance.

“The steps we take today can protect the future steps, and this is the first important step on that journey. Peripheral Neuropathy is a growing concern affecting patients in Kuwait. Through “Qadam Bela Alam” and the numerous activations, we will emphasize that Peripheral Neuropathy nerve disease is extremely serious for diabetes patients because it can strike at any time, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, however, it is not inevitable. The campaign will engage with diabetes patients, their families and friends, to educate them on measures they can take to reduce the potential of Peripheral Neuropathy nerve disease, it will show those living with the condition that they have a support network and teach them how to best manage it,” said Dr. Walid El Dahi, head of KDS. “Let me take this opportunity to thank all our partners joining hands in this campaign starting with Kuwait Ministry of Health, participating hospitals and our media partners Al Anba and Al Jarida newspapers”.

With this in mind, the Manager of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Dr. Nadia Jumaa’ said: “The campaign “Qadam Bela Alam” strengthens engagement with physicians to remind them of the importance of the role they play along every step. Our goal is to foster a process whereby diabetes patients will naturally visit their doctors for routine foot checks to have their feet examined and, how much a proactive approach can help. We would like to thank Mubarak Hospital and all of our partners for their continued support.”

“50% of diabetics are susceptible to DPN nerve disease, so the campaign is directed to diabetes patients as a mirror reflecting our support of the Kuwaiti society. It is important for diabetic patients to always examine their legs and feet to avoid or lower the risk of any disease.” Said Dr. Tanheed El Hagery, Diabetes specialist in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital.

In addition to the outreach program and engagement exercises across health centers, “Qadam Bela Alam” involves an active social media campaign to reach diabetics and their surroundings and inform them of the risks and ways of management. This is to add more convenience to patients and those who want to support the campaign and help raise awareness and save diabetics foot around us.