Nearly 425 million people are affected by diabetes globally, according to the International Diabetes Federation. And the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has the second highest diabetes rate after North America and the Caribbean.
As we observe the World Diabetes Day, it becomes important to highlight the menace of the chronic disease, which is becoming a major cause of concern for the Gulf countries, particularly the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar.
Scientists in the United States and Qatar recently signed a new partnership for stem cell research. It's the first cell-therapy programme to tackle diabetes in the region, raising hope for a cure.
Al Jazeera's Cara Legg reports from Doha.
