The Kingdom belatedly marked World Kidney Day last weekend by distributing information material and campaign literature on the prevention and management of diabetes, which is often the cause of kidney diseases. World Kidney Day was celebrated on March 11 by over 100 countries. The celebration in Saudi Arabia was spearheaded last weekend by the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association (SDEA) together with its annual educational campaign to help diabetic patients reduce their risk of kidney failure. This year's celebration of World Kidney Day focused on diabetes, which is the leading cause of kidney diseases worldwide. “Kidney failure in Saudi Arabia is a serious problem and carries with it many medical, social, and financial consequences,” said Abdulaziz Ali Al-Turki, president of SDEA, during the launching of the education drive in Al-Khobar. Information material and brochures on the prevention and management of diabetes and other endocrine diseases were distributed in malls, commercial centers, and schools. During the launch, Al-Turki emphasized that the educational campaign starts with blood sugar screening to identity those patients at risk of diabetes and then helps diabetic patients attain and maintain their blood sugar and blood pressure levels within normal ranges. SDEA information material cited the following guidelines on diabetes prevention, such as optimizing blood sugar control, optimizing blood pressure control, avoiding the consumption of excessive protein, moderating the consumption of salt and salty foods, performing annual screening and undertaking all kidney function tests, avoiding smoking, maintaining blood lipids within normal ranges, avoiding taking medication without physicians' orders, and avoiding dehydration. Dr. Basem Futa, head of the SDEA committee on information and education, said the scientific committee of the SDEA will address diabetic prevention and management programs during its annual diabetes update conference on April 7. The World Health Organization said the celebration of World Kidney Day “is a good opportunity to remind governments that the pandemic weighs heavily on all countries' healthcare budgets and that it is crucial to take action to facilitate early detection and encourage healthy lifestyles”. WHO statistics show that kidney diseases affect around 600 million people worldwide – approximately one in ten people. Kidney diseases are silent killers and patients may have no symptoms until they have kidney failure. “It is then too late for treatment and the only way to stay alive is lifetime dialysis – or transplantation, for the lucky few who manage to find a donor. Sadly, dialysis is often not an option in the developing world, where it is too expensive, water is scarce or machines are unavailable,” WHO said in its advisory on the fight against kidney diseases.
