'Health screening caught my diabetes risk'

Police officer thought he was in top health until the results from the Weqaya screening programme came in.

Ali Mohamed Saeed al Sudain enjoys iftar with his children, from left, Rashed, 14, Zayed, nine, Mahra, three, Owaish, 11, and Sayed, six, at their home in Al Rahba. Lauren Lancaster / The National

Ali Mohamed Saeed al Sudain thought he was in tip-top condition before he underwent the Weqaya screening programme. The 35-year-old Abu Dhabi police officer, a father of seven, exercised four times a week but did not give his diet much attention. After his screening, he discovered he had a high body mass index and a number of risk factors associated with diabetes.

"I was surprised to find that I had a tendency towards diabetes," he said. "Since I found out I now have a diet programme as well as my exercise regime." Diabetes is referred to as a "silent killer" because there are often no clear symptoms and many people do not understand the seriousness of the condition. Up to one in five people in the UAE are diabetic - and the numbers are on the increase. "Even though I exercise, that tendency [to develop diabetes] is still there," said Mr al Sudain.

"My father and mother have diabetes and my older siblings all have diabetes, but it stopped with me. Avoidance is better than treatment. "It is to everyone's benefit to do the screening, especially after a certain age," said Mr al Sudain. "In youth, we don't think about our health but after the age of 30 or 35 there has to be continuous checks." Despite a number of high-profile campaigns, Mr al Sudain admits he was not convinced of the benefit until he was screened.

"I didn't feel it was important at all," he said, "except that they forced us to do it in order to get the Thiqa card. "But al hamdulillah there was a use to it. I feel like I gained from it because it clarified things that I was not aware of." As well as receiving general nutritional advice from doctors, Mr al Sudain has also adapted his Ramadan diet to fit the new regime. The family have swapped certain traditional foods for healthier alternatives and changed the method of cooking.

"I used to eat things with a lot of fat in general, particularly sambousek, which I loved a lot in Ramadan," he said. "This year we are making it grilled and using other methods. Soup and salad is now a primary component of our iftar table. "I generalised the food programme, not just for me, but for the entire house so everyone is healthy." @Email:[e-mail] [e-mail]