An Emirati scientist and researcher, Dr. Budour Alkaf, has unveiled crucial insights into the risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes in the UAE population. According to her study, leading a sedentary lifestyle is a major predictor of type 2 diabetes risk in the UAE.

Diabetes is a significant global health challenge, and its prevalence is particularly high in the Gulf region, including the UAE. Type 2 diabetes, which constitutes about 90% of diabetes cases worldwide, is often linked to unhealthy lifestyles characterized by excessive calorie consumption and a lack of physical activity.

Dr. Alkaf, a research fellow at the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi, embarked on this study to dig deeper into the factors contributing to the high incidence of type 2 diabetes in the UAE. Despite the UAE having high rates of obesity and low physical activity levels, the prevalence of diabetes is notably higher compared to some countries with similar obesity and physical activity rates. This has led to the question of whether other factors, including genetics, might be playing a role in the increased risk of type 2 diabetes among the UAE population.