CAIRO, March 12, 2018 - The Ministry of Health and Population has agreed to provide Dulaglutide as a new medication for the treatment of diabetes. The treatment consists of an injection under the skin four times monthly. Patients are thus spared a daily injection to reduce the glucose level in the blood without the possible occurrence of hypoglycemia, the blood sugar decreasing to below normal levels. Doctors consider the new treatment a breakthrough in the treatment of diabetes type-2. Dr Hisham el-Hefnawi, Director of the National Diabetes Institute, said that diabetes is one of the common diseases. The number of diabetics currently total 415 million worldwide and that number is expected to increase to 614 million people by 3040. Egypt, with 8.2 million diabetics is one of ten countries with the greatest number of diabetics, according to recent statistics. "The seriousness of the disease lies in its complications, which affect the blood vessels and various tissues of the body that may lead to arteriosclerosis, heart disease and stroke, as well as retinal nephropathy, renal insufficiency and renal failure. Thus control of glucose in the blood, according to the recommendations of the guide lines, will limit diabetes complications," Dr el-Hefnawi said. Dr Salah Shelbaya, Professor of the Treatment of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Ain Shams University, said that the new medication is used under the skin and is distinguished in its ability to control glucose in the blood without the occurrence of hypoglycemia. In addition, it contributes to cutting the weight of the patient. So it is preferable for use by obese people with diabetes.
