UAE-based Landmark Group has teamed up with the Ministry of Health and Dasman Diabetes Institute for the third edition of the ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon set to be held in Kuwait next month.

The event will be held on November 17, and diabetes testing centres will be set up at multiple locations across the group’s retail network to administer free blood glucose test for the community during the month, a statement from Landmark said.

Beat Diabetes is a corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of the group that aims to spread awareness about the causes, effects and dangers of this condition.

Since 2009, when the initiative was launched, annual walkathons are conducted in the month of November, the World Diabetes Awareness month. This year the group will conduct walkathons across various countries including Kuwait, UAE and India.

Saibal Basu, chief operating officer, Landmark Group, Kuwait, said: “We are pleased to announce the third edition of the walk in Kuwait in our efforts to continue spreading awareness about diabetes. Through the campaign, we aim to encourage people to eat healthy, exercise frequently and regularly take the blood glucose test.”

Recent figures from International Diabetes Federation (IDF) report indicate that the number of people living with diabetes around the world is expected to rise from 366 million in 2011 to 552 million by 2030, unless swift action is undertaken.

This amounts to around three new cases every 10 seconds. Since a large number of people with diabetes are unaware of their condition, awareness is the first step towards diagnosis.

In 2011, the Landmark Group’s ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon attracted over 35,000 people and over 40,000 people were administered free blood glucose test across six countries. – TradeArabia News Service