Who Should Check For Diabetes?

          RISK FACTORS FOR DIABETES

Who Should Check for Diabetes?

Know the Risk Factors and Get Tested Early

Diabetes is one of the fastest-growing health problems worldwide, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is among the countries with a high burden of this disease.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), approximately 20.7% of adults in the UAE are living with diabetes, representing more than 1.2 million adults affected by the condition.

Recent UAE health reports have also shown that Sharjah has one of the highest numbers of registered diabetes patients in the country, highlighting the importance of awareness and early screening.

Many people with diabetes may not have obvious symptoms during the early stages. Identifying risk factors and performing simple blood tests can help detect diabetes or pre-diabetes before serious complications develop.

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Why Is It Important to Identify Risk Factors? Complications of Diabetes:

Early detection of diabetes can help:

• Prevent or delay complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels.
• Identify pre-diabetes, where lifestyle changes may prevent progression to diabetes.
• Initiate treatment early to improve long-term health outcomes.
• Reduce healthcare costs associated with advanced diabetes complications.

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Who Should Check for Diabetes? Symptoms of Diabetes

You should consult your doctor and undergo proper laboratory testing if you have one or more of the following risk factors:

Risk Factors for Diabetes

✓ Age

• Adults 35 years or older should consider diabetes screening, especially if overweight.

✓ Overweight or Obesity

• Body Mass Index (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²).
• Increased waist circumference or central obesity.

✓ Family History

• Parent, brother, or sister diagnosed with diabetes.

✓ Previous Pre-diabetes

• History of elevated blood glucose levels.

✓ High Blood Pressure

• Blood pressure 140/90 mmHg or higher, or taking medications for hypertension.

✓ Abnormal Cholesterol Levels

• Low HDL (“good cholesterol”).
• High triglyceride levels.

✓ Physical Inactivity

• Sedentary lifestyle with little or no regular exercise.

✓ Previous Gestational Diabetes

• Women who developed diabetes during pregnancy.

✓ Delivery of a Large Baby

• Previous baby weighing more than 4 kg (9 pounds).

✓ Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

• Women diagnosed with PCOS have an increased risk.

✓ Heart Disease or Stroke

• History of cardiovascular disease.

✓ Smoking

• Tobacco use increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

✓ Symptoms Suggestive of High Blood Glucose

Seek medical evaluation promptly if you develop:

• Excessive thirst.
• Frequent urination.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Increased hunger.
• Blurred vision.
• Recurrent skin infections.
• Slow-healing wounds.
• Persistent fatigue.
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet.

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Blood Glucose Values: What Do They Mean? Diagnosis of Diabetes

1. Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

(After at least 8 hours of fasting)

Category	Blood Glucose Level
Normal	Less than 100 mg/dL (< 5.6 mmol/L)
Pre-diabetes	100–125 mg/dL (5.6–6.9 mmol/L)
Diabetes	126 mg/dL or higher (≥ 7.0 mmol/L)

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2. Two-Hour Post-Prandial Blood Glucose (2 hours after a meal or 75 g glucose load)

Category	Blood Glucose Level
Normal	Less than 140 mg/dL (< 7.8 mmol/L)
Pre-diabetes	140–199 mg/dL (7.8–11.0 mmol/L)
Diabetes	200 mg/dL or higher (≥ 11.1 mmol/L)

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How Are Abnormal Results Confirmed?

A diagnosis of diabetes should generally be confirmed by repeating the same abnormal test on another day, unless the patient has classic symptoms of diabetes with markedly elevated blood glucose levels.

Your doctor may use one or more of the following tests:

HbA1c (Average Blood Glucose Over 2–3 Months)

Category	HbA1c
Normal	Below 5.7%
Pre-diabetes	5.7–6.4%
Diabetes	6.5% or higher

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When Should You Repeat Screening?

• Normal results: Repeat every 3 years.
• Pre-diabetes: Repeat annually or as advised by your physician.
• Multiple risk factors: More frequent monitoring may be necessary.

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Take-Home Message

Diabetes often develops silently. Many individuals remain unaware of their condition until complications occur.

If you have risk factors for diabetes, do not wait for symptoms to appear. A simple blood test can detect diabetes early, enabling timely treatment and preventing long-term complications.

In Sharjah, well-educated and well-reputed “specialist doctors in Diabetes” are available, whom one can consult for this very important screening medical check-up and follow them accordingly.

“Early detection saves vision, protects kidneys, preserves heart health, and improves quality of life.”

For Allopathic versus Homeopathic Treatment, visit: https://drsuhailmarfani.com/2026/06/17/allopathic-vs-homeopathic-treatment-understanding-the-key-differences-before-choosing-your-care/

Dr Suhail Marfani
Specialist in Internal Medicine and Doctor of Diabetes
Prime Medical Center, Al-Qasimia Branch
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

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References

1. International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes in the United Arab Emirates. IDF Diabetes Atlas. Available at: https://idf.org/our-network/regions-and-members/middle-east-and-north-africa/members/united-arab-emirates/
2. International Diabetes Federation. Diabetes Atlas Country Data – United Arab Emirates.
3. American Diabetes Association. Standards of Care in Diabetes – Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes.
4. American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Diagnosis and Tests.
5. Gulf News. Sharjah records high numbers of diabetes patients in recent UAE health figures.