Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, November 15, 2023 - The 3-month-long RAK Diabetes Challenge 2023 (RAKDC23), a flagship diabetes awareness initiative by RAK Hospital in collaboration with MOHAP- RAK (Ministry of Health and Prevention- Ras Al Khaimah), concluded today with an Awards Ceremony at the RAK Hospital premises. This community-driven program witnessed the participation of nearly 5000 individuals from across the UAE.

 

Launched on August 18th, 2023, the challenge aimed to instill lifestyle changes, focusing on dietary adjustments and regular exercise for effective diabetes management. The ceremony, graced by Mr. Khalid Abdulla Mohammed AlShehhi, Director of the Representative Office, Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) – Ras Al Khaimah, celebrated the commitment and achievements of the participants.

Competing in three categories—Physical, Virtual, and Corporate—the participants engaged in a 12-week challenge culminating on World Diabetes Day, November 14, 2023.

 

Zahid Hussain Zakir Hussain, a 39-year-old Pakistani national and shipping professional residing in Ras Al Khaimah, claimed the top prize in the Physical Category Male. He demonstrated an outstanding HbA1c reduction from 10.49 to 6.59, earning him an AED 5000 cash prize.

Sapana Joshi Chattani Prakash, a 42-year-old Dubai resident and a teacher by profession emerged as the Female category winner bagging the cash prize of AED 5000 too with an HbA1c reduction from 8.85 to 6.5.

 

The second and third-prize winners in both male and female categories received cash prizes of AED 3000 and AED 2000, respectively.

In the virtual category, Vinod kumar Sasidharanasan and Rejeena Saji emerged as winners in the male and female categories respectively receiving gift vouchers from various sponsors including staycations in 5-star properties and gym memberships, among other exciting rewards. Additionally, the top 10 participants from across all categories received a complimentary RAK Hospital Swiss Health Check Voucher worth AED 1500 each. 

In the Corporate team Challenge; Stevin Rock secured the Champions Trophy for the maximum number of employee participation, while Saqr Port received the award for the most improved biomarkers for diabetes.

 

Expressing his joy, Zahid Hussain remarked, 'My happiness knows no bounds. I have never been this fit, happy, and full of enthusiasm. I look good, feel good, and feel healthy, and the credit for all this goes to RAK Hospital for organizing a challenge like this.'

Commending the RAK Hospital Diabetes Challenge, Sapna Joshi expressed, 'It was a life savior for me. My health indicators were chaotic and I was under extreme stress. That's when I resolved to bring my health back on track. I had just discovered a cardiac condition before the challenge, adding to my medication. Now, after three months of this transformative journey and with the support of the RAK Hospital team, I've significantly improved with reduced HbA1c levels. The weekly webinars, expert guidance, and a complete lifestyle shift have made me healthier. I'm committed to sustaining this journey with my diet and exercise routine. Winning this challenge is a tremendous blessing, and I'm delighted to inspire others.'

 

Dr. Raza Siddiqui, Executive Director, RAK Hospital, said, 'RAK Diabetes Challenge 2023 is a huge leap towards leading society from illness to wellness. With almost 100% of participants registering above their normal healthy weight range, these statistics underscore the direct correlation between weight and diabetes.'

The success of RAKDC23 reaffirms RAK Hospital's commitment to promoting health and well-being within the community. The initiative empowers individuals to embrace vital lifestyle changes, emphasizing dietary adjustments and regular exercise in managing and potentially reversing diabetes. The challenge demonstrated that diabetes can be effectively managed and even reversed through lifestyle modifications. “

 

Participants showcased significant improvement in HbA1c levels, with an average reduction from 8.60 to 6.50, accompanied by an average weight loss of 5 kg.

Noteworthy is the initial HbA1c level of 14.27, emphasizing the urgent need for diabetes awareness. The challenge revealed that 85% of participants exhibited HbA1c levels above 5.7, reinforcing the event's relevance for individuals actively managing diabetes.

As a result of the challenge, the participants are healthier and lighter and benefit from a considerably diminished risk of various life-threatening complications caused by a high HbA1c. All the participants were assessed on improvement in their blood glucose levels, weight & BMI and lifestyle at the beginning and end of the challenge. An automated formula, in conformity with global practices, devised by RAK Hospital was used to evaluate the overall indexed progress of each participant and for identifying the winners.

 

RAKDC23 was supported by Platinum Sponsors Gulf Drug LLC and Al Hamra, Silver Sponsor Emitac Healthcare Solution, and Bronze Sponsors DoubleTree Hilton, The Cove Rotana, Rixos, and Radisson.