Latest news with #ICLDC
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Health
- Al Etihad
Mental health, dangers of tobacco use in spotlight this May
30 May 2025 00:12 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)In May, global awareness campaigns have spotlighted two major health issues: mental wellbeing and tobacco use. UAE healthcare providers have joined in marking Mental Health Awareness Month and are set to observe World No Tobacco Day on May 31. Doctors in the country told Aletihad that these initiatives are making an impact, with growing public awareness and shifting mindsets proving that consistent global reminders can drive meaningful change in health behaviours. Mental Health Awareness In the UAE, awareness of mental health issues has significantly improved, said Ahlam Salem, Clinical Psychologist at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC).'In the past few years, there's been a lot of education and campaigns. I now have patients — even from the older generation — who ask to see a psychologist. That shift in public perception is real,' she said. More young people have also been asking for support themselves, Salem added. 'I have had parents tell me, 'My child asked to see a psychologist'. The younger generation is far more aware and open.'In the workplace, there have been efforts to create supportive environments, she said. 'At ICLDC, for example, we hold staff wellbeing sessions, bring in yoga instructors, and block time to talk about stress and mental health strategies. It is about reminding people; especially healthcare workers — that caring for yourself is essential to caring for others.'When it comes to therapies, technology has made a difference in accessibility, the expert pointed out. 'Teletherapy has been fundamental. Patients from can now receive care without needing to travel. It has enhanced access and helped stabilise conditions.'Amid greater awareness and support, Salem reminded those silently struggling with mental health issues to seek professional help. 'You are not not a psychologist, speak to a primary care physician or a trusted loved one. You'd be surprised how many people are also struggling,' she said. To break stigma at the family and community level, she urged more open conversations. 'Just like you would treat diabetes, you should treat mental health. Seeing a psychologist does not always mean medication, and if it does, that is okay, too. We need to normalise that.' World No Tobacco Day Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, Dr. Abdul Razzak Alkaddour stressed the significance of public education in encouraging more smokers to quit."One in four deaths is related to tobacco — and not a single organ in the body is unaffected,' said Dr. Alkaddour, Cardiology and Internal Medicine Consultant at HealthPlus Diabetes and Endocrinology linked tobacco use to serious cardiovascular issues, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, and strokes — even in young people. 'We have statistics from Mayo Clinic showing direct effects on coronary arteries after just weeks of smoking,' Dr. Alkaddour said. The specialist also expressed concern about the youth's exposure to tobacco through vaping and e-cigarettes. 'The brain continues to develop until age 25. Vaping in the teenage years affects impulse control, depression, and anxiety,' he said. He added that nicotine concentrations in vapes lead to early addiction and could be a gateway to cigarettes and other substances. 'This is a nicotine delivery system involving chemicals like formaldehyde, which can cause cancer and lung diseases.'The UAE offers comprehensive support for quitting tobacco, including licensed clinics, medications, and counselling, Dr. Alkaddour said. The first step is simply making the decision to quit, then reaching out for the help that's readily available. 'This is about trust, education, and creating systems that support lasting change,' he said.
Mid East Info
28-01-2025
- Health
- Mid East Info
M42's Imperial College London Diabetes Centre doubles down on diabetes care with two new tech agreements - Middle East Business News and Information
Signing ceremonies take place at the M42 booth on day 2 of Arab Health Imperial College London Diabetes Centre will migrate to Medtronic's advanced Care Connect platform and adopt its innovative Galaxy platform It is also collaborating with innovative healthcare platform Karaz to streamline data integration. Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January, 2025: Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), part of the M42 group, is embracing the new technological advances in diabetes0 care by signing two innovative agreements, highlighting its commitment to patient empowerment and personalised and precision medicine. The signing ceremonies took place at the M42 booth on day 2 of Arab Health. The first agreement is with healthcare technology solutions provider Medtronic. ICLDC currently cares for over 1,000 patients in Abu Dhabi, that are on Medtronic's CareLink™ platform. Under the new agreement, it will migrate to Medtronic's advanced CareConnect and GALAXY platforms, which offer multiple additional features. CareConnect offers a user-friendly digital interface, designed as a more patient-centric alternative to the data-intensive CareLink™ dashboard. With customisable notifications, caregivers can stay promptly informed of critical events, such as abnormal glucose levels or device malfunctions. As an integrated remote patient monitoring system, CareConnect streamlines the patient care pathway by enhancing follow-up care and reducing the need for in-person clinical visits. By leveraging clinical insights alongside patient data, the platform prioritises cases based on urgency, ensuring timely interventions when additional care is needed. Physicians can manage patients remotely through a tailored communications channel, while patients benefit from access to consistent care and comprehensive remote monitoring. The platform also empowers care partners by enabling real-time data sharing and sending alerts directly to mobile devices. This fosters greater engagement from family members and caregivers, reducing response times to device alerts and facilitating quicker action. These features are especially crucial for managing time-sensitive conditions like diabetes. As part of the agreement, ICLDC will also adopt Medtronic's innovative GALAXY platform. GALAXY provides tailored reporting and insights, enabling clinicians to focus on specific patient needs and broader operational goals. It allows clinicians, researchers and the organisation to see aggregated patient data, providing a comprehensive view of patient health and facilitating strategic improvements in outcomes. Clinicians can review data specific to individual patients, including real-time insights and historical trends, to optimise personalised care. Robust statistical capabilities allow for trend identification, clinical outcome benchmarking, and actionable insights derived from real-world evidence. By transitioning to GALAXY, ICLDC enhances its ability to monitor patients' clinical and diagnostic data while empowering its vision to alleviate the burden of diabetes. To address the challenges of managing diverse technological solutions, ICLDC is also collaborating with innovative healthcare platform, Karaz, to streamline data integration. Currently, caregivers often need to check multiple software platforms to access data from various insulin and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. The Karaz platform will consolidate patient data into a single dashboard, simplifying caregivers' workflow and improving efficiency. By emphasizing predictive modeling and data interpretation to identify trends and anticipate patient needs, its intuitive interface empowers patients to actively participate in their health management. The platform integrates predictive insights from Karaz with Galaxy's clinical analytics, enabling healthcare providers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of patient health. Dr. Mai Al Jaber, CEO, Outpatient Care at M42, said: 'Today marks a transformative milestone in our relentless pursuit to revolutionise diabetes care. Imperial College London Diabetes Centre's partnership with Medtronic reinforces our battle against diabetes by empowering patients. It also empowers our caregivers to look at the bigger picture, identify patients with certain risk factors, and apply therapies aligned with published guidelines in a risk-stratified manner. Through the use of Medtronic's advanced CareConnect and Galaxy platforms, combined with our partnership with Karaz, we're establishing a new benchmark for proactive, personalised patient care. We're not merely adopting technology; we're leading its integration to give individuals with diabetes more control, effortless health management, and better health outcomes. This marks a crucial milestone in reshaping diabetes care, both locally and globally.' About Imperial College London Diabetes Centre: Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), an M42 company, is a state-of-the-art outpatient facility that specialises in diabetes treatment, research, training, and public health awareness. In just over a decade, the Centre has gained international renown for its holistic approach to the treatment of diabetes and related complications that enables patients to receive the full spectrum of care they need in one place. With more than 80 diabetes professionals and endocrinologists under one roof, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre offers best-in-class medical attention from first diagnosis to disease management across 11 specialist practice areas including adult and paediatric endocrinology, treatment of metabolic and electrolyte disorders, pre- and post-bariatric surgery care, heart disease prevention, nutritional advice, diabetes education services, ophthalmology, nephrology, and podiatry. ICLDC was established in 2006 in Abu Dhabi by Mubadala in partnership with the UK's Imperial College London to address the growing demand for diabetes care in the UAE. The centre now operates three branches across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, touching the lives of more than one million people through patient-centric programmes and public health initiatives. In 2007, ICLDC launched Diabetes. Knowledge. Action, now the longest running public health awareness campaign in the country. The initiative promotes an active lifestyle through an ongoing calendar of events for the whole community – Major activations include an annual walkathon that coincides with the World Diabetes Day in November. ICLDC holds the Joint Commission International (JCI) Clinical Care Program Certification in Outpatient Diabetes Management and JCI Accreditation for Ambulatory Care. About M42: M42 is a global health champion powered by artificial intelligence (AI), technology and genomics to advance innovation in health for people and the planet. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, M42 combines its specialized, state-of-the-art facilities with integrated health solutions like genomics and biobanks, and harnesses advanced technologies to deliver precise, preventive and predictive care, to impactfully disrupt traditional healthcare models and positively impact lives globally. Established in 2022, following the coming together of G42 Healthcare and Mubadala Health, M42 has more than 480 facilities in 26 countries and over 20,000 employees. M42 includes renowned healthcare providers including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Danat Al Emarat, Diaverum, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Hospital, and Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi. As well as operating the Emirati Genome Programme, M42 runs Abu Dhabi BioBank and Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), a global tech-enabled healthcare company operating Malaffi.
Hi Dubai
28-01-2025
- Health
- Hi Dubai
ICLDC Enhances Diabetes Care with New Partnerships at Arab Health
The Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), part of the M42 group, has signed two significant agreements at Arab Health in Dubai, underscoring its commitment to advancing diabetes care through patient empowerment and precision medicine. ICLDC's first agreement, in collaboration with Medtronic, aims to enhance its diabetes care services for over 1,000 patients in Abu Dhabi. The centre, which currently utilizes Medtronic's CareLink™ platform, will transition to Medtronic's advanced CareConnect and GALAXY platforms. CareConnect, designed to be more patient-centric, offers a streamlined interface and customizable notifications for critical events, enabling caregivers to monitor patients remotely. The platform integrates remote patient monitoring, ensuring timely interventions and reducing in-person visits. In addition, the GALAXY platform will provide tailored reporting, offering clinicians and researchers comprehensive patient insights, improving both individual care and operational strategies. ICLDC is also collaborating with Karaz, an innovative healthcare platform, to simplify data integration. The Karaz platform will consolidate patient information from various devices into a single, user-friendly dashboard, enhancing efficiency for caregivers. Dr. Mai Al Jaber, CEO of Outpatient Care at M42, remarked, "This partnership marks a transformative step in diabetes care, enabling us to offer proactive, personalized treatments and better outcomes. Through CareConnect, GALAXY, and Karaz, we are leading the integration of advanced technologies to revolutionize diabetes management locally and globally." These agreements represent ICLDC's ongoing efforts to reshape diabetes care, making it more accessible, efficient, and focused on individual patient needs. News Source: Emirates News Agency
