Pre-Existing Conditions - Diabetes. Facts and Tips

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about 347 million people in the world suffer from diabetes. This is already a big figure, but studies seem to indicate that the number of sufferers is currently increasing. As a result, the healthcare systems of many countries worldwide will be badly affected soon. Since we receive many enquiries in relation to this pre-existing condition, we thought we would look at some facts, as well as tips for expats to prevent it when settling down in another country.

WHO says that 80% of sufferers live in low and middle income countries, some of which also happen to be popular expat destinations, such as China. In other areas around the world, diabetes is also growing quickly. Research company YouGov surveyed residents in the UAE in March this year to better understand how diabetes rates have impacted the Emirates. 58% of the Emirati surveyed reported that it ran in the family, as compared to 41% of Westerners and 54% of Asians. The WHO predicts that there will be 685,000 cases in the Emirates by 2030.

Just to give a bit of context, there are three types of diabetes. The two major types are type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is characterised by a lack of insulin production, whereas type 2 diabetes sufferers are unable to make effective use of insulin. Insulin is the hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. A third type of diabetes is characterised by raised blood sugar levels, and which has been recognised or first appeared during pregnancy. 

Lifestyle changes can lead to type 2 diabetes, which is the only type that can actually be prevented, and yet it accounts for around 90% of all diabetes worldwide. How does this affect expatriates? When expats move to a new country, it is very easy to become less active than they might have been prior to moving to a new country, as a result of their adaptation process. 

It is also very easy to indulge in the variety of new and exotic foods available while leading a less active lifestyle. The temptation of tasty comfort food is often too much to resist. However, many of the respondents in the survey above cited weight and poor diet as the main perceived causes of diabetes in adults. 

So, let's look at some hints and tips for expats to lead a healthier lifestyle.

• Keeping an eye on your diet becomes essential.
  Eating dark and green orange veggies can help. For example, spinach, broccoli, carrots and winter squash.
• Eat good carbs, eg, whole grain cereals.
• Regular moderate exercise will be helpful. Just an hour's walk every day will help.
• Act early! Check your blood sugar levels, because high blood sugar levels can be corrected before lasting damage sets in.

While expatriates who suffer from this pre-existing condition would still be advised to check how diabetes can affect their policy, it is a good idea to take the necessary steps to prevent it.

Thanks for reading. 

Most expats in UAE ‘ignorant of local culture’

The majority of foreigners in the UAE have no real knowledge of Emirati culture and traditions, a recent survey has revealed.

A survey of over 2,000 expatriates carried out by the UAE's Ministry of Interior found that 60 per cent confessed to having only a "basic" knowledge about their host country's culture, with 12 per cent admitting that they knew “next to nothing”.

Although most expats (70 per cent) said that there were enough resources available to help them learn about the local culture, only a third said they set aside enough time to research it, while 11 per cent confessed they had never tried to learn at all.

This was despite the fact that the majority of expats surveyed (77 per cent) had lived in the UAE for more than a year, while more than two-fifths (43 per cent) had lived there at least five.

When it came to the UAE's religious holidays, only four in ten (39 per cent) said that they knew when they fell and what their significance was, while the majority (61 per cent) said they were "not really" aware, or knew just "some of the time".

Writing in the Ministry of Interior's magazine 999, where the results were published, Karen Remo-Listana and Emma Procter said expats' apparent "complacence" could go some way towards explaining why stories of foreigners being arrested for offences “from kissing to swearing in public flood the papers on a regular basis”.

“The survey data suggests a serious case of ignorance of the country's moral boundaries and thus explains the increasing incidents of expats falling foul of the law,” they added.

Briton Tara Rogers, managing partner of a PR company in Dubai, said that it was very easy for expats to become segregated, but that “over the years, the UAE has created a number of initiatives and programmes that offer expats an insight into Emirati culture, inviting us to share meals, visit mosques and learn about the intricacies of the culture.

“It is true that one might have to make an effort to seek them out but they are there,” she said. “I really think that on the part of expats it is a question of attitude and interest. If you are interested you will meet the most wonderful people. If you just stick to your own, you won’t – as simple as that.“

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

Aviva teams with UAE insurer to provide expat private medical insurance

Aviva’s UK health business has set up a new arrangement with Abu Dhabi based Emirates Insurance Company to provide expats based in the United Arab Emirates with compliant international private medical insurance solutions.

The development of a UAE network is the first in a series of enhancements that Aviva says it is giving its international private medical insurance customers.

The new arrangement means that Aviva customers based in the UAE will now be offered one of four bespoke international medical insurance products.

Benefits available through the Emirates’ International Solutions product have been designed to specifically meet the needs of the local area. The company says that this means that customers based in Abu Dhabi will no longer be required to purchase local insurance to satisfy visa requirements.

Consistent with local practice in the UAE, Aviva has also teamed up with Neuron, a specialist third party administrator based in Dubai. Neuron provides professional administration and management services to clients based in the Middle East.

 

The company has been specifically chosen for its extensive experience in the area and commitment to providing expert customer service. Neuron will manage all claims for Aviva customers receiving treatment in the UAE and work closely with a network of hospitals to arrange treatment and direct settlement of invoices.

The new Emirates’ International Solutions product range will be available from 01 March 2012. Full details of the products will be announced early next year. At renewal, existing Aviva customers based in the UAE will be invited to transfer to one of Aviva’s Emirate’s International Solutions policies.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.

New medical tests for UAE expats

Thousands of expat workers are to be subjected to medical tests in their home countries before they are allowed to enter the UAE, it has been announced.

The new rules will apply to foreign workers from 10 countries, the UAE’s ministry of health said at a recent press conference. The ministry of Health in the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates) is preparing to implement the new regulations in an effort to cut down the amount of communicable diseases brought into the country.

The U.A.E. is particularly vulnerable to this problem as almost 90% of it's residents are Expats, meaning the potential for diseases to be brought into the country is considerable.

Designed to stop newcomers from bringing dangerous diseases into the UAE, the scheme is expected to be rolled out from October 1, with Indonesia and Sri Lanka the first countries affected.  Eight more countries – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia – will be added later.

Expats will be screened mainly for contagious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and HIV/Aids, at approved medical centres, with those who test positive refused entry. They will also be subjected to confirmatory re-tests once they are in the country.

Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director at Bupa International, said the changes seemed “sensible“. “The UAE has long been very stringent about disease control, as they have many workers coming in from other countries. These workers carry two risks: firstly, transmission, and secondly, a burden on the health system," he said.

He raised doubts however about the effectiveness of the system, as identifying latent cases of diseases such as TB "could be diagnostically challenging". He also said there was a risk that test results from the countries in question, "where there is often medical fraud...might not be 100 per cent reliable".

The changes are being implemented as part of the Gulf Co-operative Council's expatriate worker medical examination programme, which began in 1995.

When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.

Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.

April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.