United Arab Emirates -  November 16, 2020:   Aster Volunteers, the CSR arm of Aster DM Healthcare is launching a Diabetes Awareness Week from 17th November onwards, in association with Abbott, Aster Hospitals & Clinics and Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres, with an aim to generate awareness on Diabetes and provide people with an opportunity for early detection of the disease which can help control the progression. HbA1c is an important indicator of long-term blood-sugar control with the ability to reflect the average history of the preceding two to three months. HbA1c test not only provides a reliable measure of chronic diabetes but also correlates well with the risk of long-term diabetes complications.

 

Only one out of five people can spot the symptoms of diabetes and in many cases, it has been seen that the disease progresses to an advanced stage by the time it is diagnosed. There is also a common misconception that diabetes only affects the elderly or those with poor lifestyle habits. During the current pandemic, when people with diabetes are at an increased risk of contracting Covid-19, early identification of the disease and its control is crucial. The Aster Volunteers team, in this week-long campaign will work towards debunking these myths and offer free diabetes HbA1c tests to as many residents as possible. The tests will be conducted at designated centers across UAE, maintaining the highest COVID – 19 safety protocols.

 

Commenting on the initiative Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman & Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare said, “As a responsible healthcare provider we are duty bound to encourage people to understand the value of preventive healthcare instead of reactive sick care. This is more evident with Covid-19 pandemic highlighting the importance of preservative measures to take care of our health — it is seen that the largest number of deaths from COVID 19 are in people with Diabetes. The Diabetes Awareness Week being launched by Aster Volunteers, is our effort to provide an opportunity for people to take charge of their health by adopting  right lifestyle choices and avoid  Diabetes mellitus.”

 

Marking 14 November as the World Diabetes Day, the week-long initiative will begin from 17th November where people can register at www.astervolunteers.com and choose the nearest designated center to get the test done. The tests will be conducted for a week, every day and the test results will be delivered within 48 hours via email or SMS. People undergoing the tests can book volunteer consultations for themselves within one week of receiving the test results.