KUWAIT CITY, Aug 18: Dr. Youssef Bou Abbas, an Endocrinology and Hormones Consultant and founder of the Kuwait Obesity Association, has confirmed that diabetes is now the seventh leading cause of death directly. In a statement to Al Jarida, Dr. Bou Abbas highlighted a recent report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which lists diabetes as a major cause of mortality.

According to the CDC report, heart disease remains the top cause of death, with over 60% of heart disease patients also suffering from diabetes. The report underscores that diabetes ranks as the seventh direct cause of death.

Dr. Bou Abbas emphasized the critical need to address both heart disease and diabetes to lower the mortality rate. He stressed that effective management and prevention of diabetes are crucial, noting that the key to reducing diabetes-related deaths lies in comprehensive prevention and intensive treatment.

He recommended a "triple therapy" approach to managing type 2 diabetes, which includes a low-carbohydrate and starch diet, daily walking, and a weekly injection of a GLP-1 agonist. This medication reduces hunger, increases fat burning, and slows down food absorption in the stomach. Dr. Bou Abbas pointed out that this treatment method has shown effectiveness in weight reduction, with patients potentially losing 25% to 30% of their original weight within several months. This approach can also be used to help those with type 2 diabetes recover, provided the patient has been diagnosed with diabetes for 10 years or less.

Dr. Bou Abbas stressed the importance of collaborative efforts in diabetes prevention and intensive treatment to mitigate the risk of premature death from heart disease.