Dubai app to stop a silent killer

Through a competition on a newly developed diabetes app, competitors are eligible to win a healthy meal plan delivered to their doorstep.

It is not the usual theme of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) on the weekly Twitter clinic, but the competition serves a purpose, pointed the health experts out.

Through encouraging people to compete in this game, the DHA aims to form the largest virtual circle of diabetics in the world.

The app known as ‘Stay Strong’ presently has a diabetes themed game and the players can compare scores making it an interactive platform for diabetics and non-diabetics alike.

Shortly, the Dubai Diabetes Combat and Control Committee will provide, via the app, information for diabetics, pre-diabetics and people who want to follow healthy eating and lifestyle patterns, said the DHA.

The competition is simple; the participant is given 60 seconds to tap the screen as many times possible.
However, to keep up tapping for 60 seconds can be more difficult than it seems, and the game is a parallel to the daily struggle people with diabetes face, points the app out.

Mohamed Hammad, Founder and Managing Director at Benchmark Middle East, FZ-LLC, said: “The app challenge mirrors the philosophy of ‘stay strong’, which is necessary for diabetics who deal with the daily challenges of living with the disease.

“We have developed several prizes and other incentives to help people get involved in leading a healthy life.
“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.

“The meal-plans will be delivered for one month or two weeks or a week depending on the score of the player.”
“The idea is to rope in people and make it challenging and entertaining for them so that they begin to have positive affirmations with regard to healthy meals, physical exercise and overall wellbeing,” he added.

An attempt made by this reporter resulted in a score of 378 taps, impressively contested by high-scores nearing a 1,000 taps.

Although the app is currently cenrtalised around the competition, information will soon support the aim of educating the public about the chronic disease, which is estimated to be prevalent among 18.98 per cent of the UAE population.
The app will have 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.

Elamin Ibrahim Elamin, Endocrinologist at Dubai Hospital said: “Today, smart phone penetration is significant and this app  provides us with an opportunity to make health information accessible to individuals with diabetes, pre-diabetes and to people who are interested to get information about leading a healthy lifestyle.

“People will have access to this information on their finger tips and they can access it any time that it convenient to them.”

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