Dubai's Guinness Record Attempt: Display of 11k bulbs

Dubai bagged yet another Guinness world record at Burj Park last week, displaying the largest circle of light bulbs. “And we did it! We created the ‪‎Guinness world record for the largest light bulb circle ever made!” announced the organisers after 11,000 bulbs were lit in the iconic landscape.

The efforts came to shed light on the effects of diabetes, which is fast becoming the greatest health challenge facing the UAE, said the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), spearheading the campaign in partnership with Benchmark Middle East and with the support of various companies.

Approximately 20 per cent of the population in the UAE suffers from diabetes. Figures suggest around 76,800 UAE citizens have been diagnosed with diabetes and that an additional 312,000 UAE citizens suffer from the disease but have yet to be diagnosed.

The number of patients is growing steadily. If prevalence rates continue to swell with its current pace, the proportion of those suffering from diabetes or pre-diabetes is expected to be 32 per cent by 2020, and the number of diabetes patients will have risen to 204,000 in 2030.

Stay Strong, as the campaign is titled, is more than just a single record-breaking event. Being part of the Dubai Against Diabetes programme, the campaign aims to evoke change in the mindset and lifestyle of the general public, and put Dubai on the map as the forerunner in the fight and prevention of Diabetes, explained the DHA.

As part of the first phase of the campaign, an innovative mobile phone app was launched challenging mobile users to enter the Stay Strong competition, by hitting a button as many times possible within one minute.

The competition requires motivation and persistence, argued the DHA, and residents were urged to show their support to the local diabetes community by sharing their scores and spreading the Dubai Against Diabetes message - ‘Stay Strong’.

It did not end there. On Thursday, every light bulb represented a participant of the Stay Strong competition, so downloading the app alone was enough to show support. “Individuals who have downloaded the app will be automatically lighting one bulb in the Guinness World Record display. The aim of the event is to unify the nation against Diabetes,” explained DHA.

Although a stunning world record was set and competitors scored impressively on the mobile app, the main aim of the campaign is to spread word about this disease and to inform as many people as possible about the steps that can be taken to prevent this disease, besides letting diabetics know that they are not alone, elaborated Mohamed Hammad, Founder and Managing Director at Benchmark Middle East.

While diabetes is a chronic disease, development of the disease can be prevented when detected in an early stage. “Early diagnosis can alert individuals of conditions such as pre-diabetes, and if detected early on, it can be reversed or even prolonged through regular exercise and a balanced diet,” explained Ahmad bin Kalban, CEO of Hospital Services Sector at the DHA.

“Diabetes is a lifestyle disease and, therefore, community education is a vital component to prevent new cases as well as to manage the existing ones so that people take charge of their health and avoid the several complications that are associated with this disease,” he added.

The Stay Strong campaign will continue to exist and the app can be downloaded for Apple and Android devices, and then shared with family and friends through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #StayStrongCircle.

At the end of every month, 40 players including the top 20 players and top 20 challengers of the diabetes challenge game available on the app will be rewarded with healthy meal plans delivered to their door-step.

Information on the app will soon support the aim of educating the public about the chronic disease, with specific information for children with diabetes including how to prepare interesting diabetic meals for kids, physical exercise requirements for them and fun ways to incorporate exercise.
 

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