The past three months have been a remarkable journey for Zahid Hussain, a 39-year-old Pakistani national residing in Ras Al Khaimah. As a diabetic, he dedicated himself to significantly lowering his blood glucose levels and emerged as one of the successful participants in the RAK Diabetes Challenge 2023.
This 3-month challenge, which saw the enthusiastic participation of 5,000 UAE residents, commenced on August 18 with the primary goal of raising awareness about diabetes.
"I feel like a 22-year-old young man - more energetic and happier," exclaimed Hussain, who managed to reduce his HbA1c levels (blood sugar levels) from 10.49 to 6.59, earning himself a Dh5,000 cash prize. Hussain's routine, though simple, was rigorous. "I worked out for over five hours, altered my diet to include low-calorie foods, incorporated plenty of green vegetables, and consumed over six liters of water daily."
A shipping professional, Hussain adhered to his regimen and naturally shed weight. "I was 88kg at the beginning of the challenge, and now, after losing 15kg, I weigh 73kg,” he added.
“I am determined to continue this routine and try to drop my HbA1c levels even further,” said Hussain, expressing gratitude for the immense support he received from his family.
Another participant who successfully lowered his sugar levels was Inam ul Hassan, a Ras Al Khaimah resident and CFO of a startup. Having moved to the UAE two years ago after spending over 25 years in Australia, Hassan was able to bring his HbA1c level down from around 12 to 8.9 by controlling his diet and sleep pattern.
“It is a great initiative to make residents healthy and fit,” remarked Hassan.
The RAK Diabetes Challenge 2023 aims to instill lifestyle changes, emphasizing dietary adjustments and regular exercise for effective diabetes management. The award ceremony was graced by Khalid Abdulla Mohammed AlShehhi, Director of the Representative Office, Ministry of Health and Prevention (Mohap) – Ras Al Khaimah.
The competition featured three categories—Physical, Virtual, and Corporate—where participants engaged in a 12-week challenge culminating on World Diabetes Day on November 14.
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.
In the female category, Sapana Joshi Chattani Prakash, a 42-year-old Dubai resident and a teacher, emerged as the winner, securing a cash prize of Dh5,000 with an HbA1c reduction from 8.85 to 6.5.
Cash prizes of Dh3,000 and Dh2,000 were awarded to the second and third prize winners in both male and female categories.
In the virtual category, Vinod Kumar Sasidharanasan and Rejeena Saji were the male and female winners, receiving gift vouchers from various sponsors, including staycations in 5-star properties and gym memberships.
The top 10 participants from all categories received a complimentary RAK Hospital Swiss Health Check Voucher worth Dh1,500 each.
Dr. Raza Siddiqui, Executive Director of RAK Hospital, emphasized that the diabetes challenge is a significant step towards leading society from illness to wellness. He noted, “With almost 100 per cent of participants registering above their normal healthy weight range, these statistics underscore the direct correlation between weight and diabetes.”