KUWAIT CITY, Oct 7: Consultant endocrinologist and Head of the “Essentials of Endocrinology and Diabetes” conference Dr. Zidane Al-Mazidi yesterday highlighted the high rate of diabetes among children in the country, stressed that 40 out of every 100,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes every year.

In an exclusive press statement to Al-Seyassah on the sidelines of the inauguration of the two-day “Essentials of Endocrinology and Diabetes” conference, Dr. Al-Mazidi said, "Short stature is the most common endocrine disease among children in the country, followed by hypothyroidism, calcium deficiency, early puberty, adrenal and hypothyroidism, and undescended testicles in newborns.

Genes play an important role in endocrine diseases, as they represent approximately 10 to 20 percent of the causes of the disease."

Dr. Al-Mazidi explained that the conference was organized by the Kuwait Society for Endocrinology, with the cooperation of the Kuwait Medical Association and the Dasman Diabetes Institute. An elite group of consultants and specialists in Kuwait, the Gulf countries and the world participated in the conference to discuss the latest therapeutic developments and to exchange experiences in this field.

The conference highlights the most important scientific developments in the treatment of diabetes and other issues related to endocrine glands, the importance of early diagnosis of these diseases, and the close link between obesity and diabetes.

It grants participants 14 points of continuing medical education from the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specializations.

Dr. Al-Mazidi expressed hope that the conference will come up with important recommendations that are in the interest of the health sector in the country.

He stressed the importance of such conferences that keep pace with the scientific development the world is witnessing, offer knowledge about the latest developments and research in the field of health care for patients with issues related to endocrine glands and diabetes, highlight methods for providing health care services and discuss what benefits medical personnel.

By Marwa Al-Bahrawi
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff