Overview

The Diabetes Research Center (DRC) at QBRI, is working for the improved prevention, reversal, and treatment of diabetes and related complications and comorbidities, contributing to the Qatar national diabetes research, strategy, and health priorities research programs.

Diabetes is a major healthcare challenge globally. In Qatar, the prevalence of diabetes is an estimated 17% of the population - twice the global average. For patients with diabetes, 10% have type 1 diabetes and 90% type 2 diabetes. A further 20% of the population have prediabetes, with 10% of these progressing to type 2 diabetes per annum. A key driver of the development of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes is being overweight and obese, affecting over 70% of adults (with over 35% obese) and 20% of children. Further concerns are vascular complications of diabetes - nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease – which affect 30 – 40% of patients with diabetes.

QBRI works with collaborators and partners on the mechanistic understanding of diabetes, diabetic complications, and comorbidities, with an integrated translational and precision medicine approach.