The third International Gulf Diabetes Conference for the Gulf region is scheduled on Feb. 10 to discuss the latest developments in the treatment of diabetic children, including the use of insulin pumps and transplanting pancreatic cells. Dr. Khaled Bin Abdullah Tayyib, Chairman of the Scientific Committee for the conference said the treatment will be discussed by an elite group of doctors, who specialize in diabetes and endocrinology, from prestigious universities around the world. This includes Prof. Jean-Claud Mbanya, President of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Dr. Edward Horton, Dr. Peter Geed, Dr. Andrew Bolton and Dr. Thomas Dean. Tayyib said the scientific committee has prepared two scientific programs – one would specialize in looking at the latest developments in diabetes among adults. This program would be held with Tayyib in the chair and consist of a group of Saudi consultant doctors and specialists. The second program would discuss scientific research on diabetes in children under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdul Mu'een Al-Agha, with a group of consultant doctors. He said the conference's sessions would discuss many scientific issues related to diabetes in adults and children. This includes the relationship of diabetes with cancer, the role of vitamin D in the treatment, ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes including treatment with insulin pumps and pancreatic cell transplants, and the relationship of diabetes with obesity and coronary artery disease. The discussions would also highlight the most effective therapeutic and preventive measures to combat the disease. Tayyib said the Saudi Commission for Medical Specializations has approved 29 scientific hours and training for the participants in the conference.
