Assessment of Type 2 Diabetes Awareness and Knowledge in the Non-medical Bahraini Population.

Background With type 2 diabetes (T2D) posing an escalating health challenge to the Kingdom of Bahrain, enhancing public awareness becomes instrumental in mitigating disease outcomes. This study aimed to appraise the level of T2D awareness among the non-medical Bahraini population by evaluating their understanding of the disease, its risk factors, symptoms, complications, monitoring, and prevention methods. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study from March 2022 to June 2022. The study employed an electronic survey using Google® Forms (Google LLC, Mountain View, California, USA) targeting non-healthcare workers aged 15 and above. The survey consisted of multiple yes-and-no questions designed to evaluate different aspects of respondents' T2D knowledge. Results Out of 835 participants, a total of 613 participants were included. The overall awareness of T2D was found to be average (70.6% CI±6.214, SD ±8.80%). The mean scores of correct answers in the different sections such as general knowledge, risk factors, symptoms, complications, treatment, monitoring, and prevention of T2D were 54.5% CI ±14.8, 75.5% CI±12.5, 77.6% CI±5.3, 61.8% CI±8.5, and 73.4% CI±5.4 respectively. Furthermore, the diabetic population scored an average of 76.7% in awareness in comparison to the non-diabetic population which scored 72.5% in overall awareness. Conclusions These findings underscore the pressing need to enhance T2D awareness among the Bahraini population. Implementing early education programs and strategically utilizing social media platforms may aid in bolstering public understanding of T2D, aiming ultimately to reduce its prevalence and associated economic burden.

Effect of Date Fruit Consumption on the Glycemic Control of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objective. Date fruit has been reported to have benefits in type 2 diabetes (T2D), though there is a concern, given the high sugar content, about its effects on glycemic control. Design and Setting. Prospective, interventional, randomized, parallel study. Participants. In total, 79 patients with T2D (39 male and 40 female). Intervention. Participants were randomly allocated to either 60 g date fruit or 60 g raisins daily of the equivalent glycemic index (amount split, given as midmorning and midafternoon snack) for 12 weeks. Main Outcome Measures. The primary outcome was to investigate the effect of date fruit on HbA1c and fasting blood glucose, and their variability, in patients with T2D in comparison to the same glycemic load of raisins. The secondary outcomes were to determine whether date fruit affected cardiovascular risk by measuring fasting lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), blood pressure, and insulin resistance (IR) as measured by Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA-IR). Results. In total, 61 (27 female and 34 male) of 79 patients completed the study. There was no difference between or within groups for HbA1c or HbA1c variability, fasting glucose or glucose variability, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S), beta cell function (HOMA-B), the disposition index, lipids, systolic (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP), or C-reactive protein (CRP) (p > 0.05). Conclusion. No improvement in glycemic indices was seen following supplementation of 60 g daily date fruit or raisins, though neither had a deleterious effect on glycemic control over a 12-week period, indicating their safety when consumed in T2D. Additionally, no beneficial therapeutic effects of date fruit on other cardiovascular indices in T2D were seen.

A national survey in United Arab Emirates on practice of passive range of motion by physiotherapists in intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) are at an increased risk of developing immobility related complications. Physiotherapists are challenged to employ preventive and rehabilitative strategies to combat these effects. Passive limb range of motion (PROM) exercises- a part of early mobilization-aid in maintaining joint range of motion and functional muscle strength and forms a part of treatment for patients in ICU. However, there is a lack of evidence on practice of PROM exercises on patients admitted to ICU in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed at exploring practices regarding the same in UAE. METHODS: This survey, conducted from January 2021 to February 2021 in College of Physiotherapy, Sharjah University studied practice of physiotherapists in the intensive care units. Physiotherapists currently working in ICU completed an online questionnaire composed of forty-two questions about physiotherapy service provision, assessment and intervention in the intensive care units. RESULTS: 33 physiotherapists completed the survey. 66.6% of respondents routinely assessed PROM for all the patients in ICU referred for physiotherapy. 84.8% of them assessed all the joints. More than half of the respondents (57.8%) reported that they administered PROM regularly to all the patients. According to 63.6% respondents, maintaining joint range of motion was the main reason for performing PROM. Responses pertaining to sets and repetitions of PROM were variable ranging from 1-6 sets and from 3 to 30 repetitions. Personal experience, resources/financial consideration and research findings were found to have influence on the practice. CONCLUSIONS: PROM was found to be one of the frequently used mobilization techniques administered by physiotherapists in the intensive care units and was mostly performed after assessment. Maintaining joint range of motion was the main aim for performing PROM. Variability was found in the sets and repetitions of PROM administered. Various factors influenced the practice of PROM.