Imperial College London Diabetes Centre

The Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC) is a state-of-the-art outpatient facility that specialises in diabetes treatment, research, training and public health awareness. It was established in Abu Dhabi, in 2006, by Mubadala in partnership with a team from Imperial College London, to address the growing demand for diabetes care in the UAE. The centre now operates three branches across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, touching the lives of more than one million people through patient-centric programmes and public health initiatives.

The Challenge:

As a nation, the UAE faced a high prevalence of diabetes and obesity. The aim was not only to understand why this was the case – and find ways to slow down and reverse the trend – but also to provide patients with the full range of care they needed, from diagnosis to disease management, all in one place.

Renowned for their expertise in diabetes management, and extensive research into treatments for obesity, Professor Sir Steve Bloom (Department of Medicine) and his team were approached to support and collaborate on the set-up of a specialist diabetes centre.

The solution:

With the middle east ranking highest in the world for diabetes, investment was raised to create a specialist centre where patients from across the nation could learn how to manage their diabetes – and receive free treatment.

Professor Bloom and the team helped set-up the initial facility, defining the clinical processes required to provide a holistic approach to the treatment of diabetes, endocrinology (and its complications), based on the specific needs of Abu Dhabi and the wider region.

The result was a highly efficient patient journey, including instruction from a dietician and consultation with a doctor who provided tailored treatment. Imperial’s Professor Karim Meeran also advised on recruitment of the team – and developed courses to ensure their skills were maintained.

Ongoing support:

In just over a decade, the Centre has gained international renown for its holistic approach to the treatment of diabetes and related complications that enables patients to receive the full spectrum of care they need in one place. With more than 80 diabetes professionals and endocrinologists under one roof, ICLDC offers best-in-class medical attention from first diagnosis to disease management across 11 specialist practice areas including adult and paediatric endocrinology, treatment of metabolic and electrolyte disorders, pre- and post-bariatric surgery care, heart disease prevention, nutritional advice, ophthalmology, nephrology and podiatry.

In 2007, ICLDC launched Diabetes.Knowledge.Action, now the longest running public health awareness campaign in Abu Dhabi. The initiative promotes an active lifestyle through an ongoing calendar of events for the whole community, including an annual walkathon that coincides with the World Diabetes Day in November. The ICLDC also holds the Joint Commission International (JCI) Clinical Care Program Certification in Outpatient Diabetes Management and JCI Accreditation for Ambulatory Care.

Professor Bloom and Professor Meeran continue to support physician recruitment and medical training as well as the centre’s clinical processes. Plus, with Imperial’s support, ICLDC holds regular educational events which has ‘put the centre on the map’ attracting global audiences and leading experts in the field, ensuring excellence in diabetes healthcare worldwide. Previous events have included The European Society of Endocrinology (ESE) Clinical Update Meetings and the Advanced Medicine Congress, supported by the Royal College of Physicians.

ICLDC news stories

Ongoing news available here.

Press release May 2012 – His Highness Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region has officially opened the second Imperial College London Diabetes Centre – a state-of-the-art facility that will provide world-class standards of care to patients in the United Arab Emirates city of Al Ain and its surrounding region.

June 2010 – Dr Maha Taysir Barakat, co-founder of the Imperial College Diabetes Centre (ICLDC) in Abu Dhabi, has been awarded an OBE for services to medical research, training and public health in the United Arab Emirates.

Press release May 2007 – A public health awareness campaign aimed at fighting diabetes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was showcased this week with a visit to the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC) by HRH Prince Charles and HRH the Duchess of Cornwall.

Press release August 2006 – Abu Dhabi’s new state-of-the-art diabetes centre was officially opened this month by His Highness Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. The Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), the UAE’s largest multi-disciplinary diabetes facility, will be dedicated to prevention, treatment, training and research covering all aspects of diabetes and its complications. The event was attended by His Excellency Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, President of the Tourism Committee, Emirates of Abu Dhabi.

Capacity and capability building, testing and co-branding initiatives

Imperial’s ongoing participation in the ICLDC is handled by project management professionals from the Imperial Projects team. To discuss similar large-scale projects, please feel free to contact us.

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