A bikers parade to raise Juvenile Diabetes awareness

American Hospital Dubai was the ‘Hospital Partner’ to the first ever bikers parade through the streets of Dubai to raise awareness on Type 1 Diabetes in Children. The action-packed event was organized in collaboration with Dubai and Abu Dhabi Chapters of H.O.G. - the official riding club of Harley-Davidson and ETICA the Dubai based entity that works with government, semi-government and private sectors on projects and initiatives that touch on the pillars of CSR, including environment, economic, workplace, national identity and social/ humanitarian.

Accompanied by Dubai Police, the "Type 1 Diabetes Parade UAE - 2015" took place recently over the weekend. Over 100 bikers assembled at the Grand Parking in Motor City at 9:00 a.m. and departed at 10:00 a.m. heading through Al Khail Road and exited via Dubai Mall, and finally reached American Hospital Dubai. 

Set in a fun filled atmosphere, children with Type 1 Diabetes were made to feel like real heroes as they met the riders and had photo sessions and other fun activities with their families. The event culminated as a "Tree of Hope" was planted in front of the hospital symbolizing the growing hope for cure. 

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most common pediatric endocrine diseases. “Around 30% of all new onset cases with type 1 Diabetes in children present with Diabetic Ketoacidosis (1). Early recognition of symptoms of Type 1 Diabetes would help prevent morbidity and mortality with this presentation. Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease where body’s immune system attacks (Beta cells) in the pancreas, the main cells which make insulin, leading to rising blood glucose levels,” said Dr. Hanaa Zidan, Pediatric Endocrinologist at American Hospital Dubai.

According to the IDF Diabetes Atlas report in 2012, the incidence of Type 1 diabetes among children was increasing at an estimated average of 3% per year across the globe, and nearly 65,000 children in the MENA region alone were affected by this condition - a substantially higher percentage than the global average. 

American Hospital Dubai has a full fledged Paediatric Endocrinology department that handles cases relating to Paediatric Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, and accepts referrals for the evaluation and treatment of children from infants to young adults with any condition that falls within the broad areas of endocrinology and metabolism.