Epidemiology, Clinical and Complications Profile of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia: a Review

Overview

Journal Ann Saudi Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2007 Aug 9

PMID 17684435

Citations 70

Authors

Tarik A Elhadd

Abdallah A Al-Amoudi

Ali S Alzahrani

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is emerging as a major public health problem in Saudi Arabia in parallel with the worldwide diabetes pandemic, which is having a particular impact upon the Middle East and the third world. This pandemic has accompanied the adoption of a modern lifestyle and the abandonment of a traditional lifestyle, with a resultant increase in rates of obesity and other chronic non-communicable diseases. The indigenous Saudi population seems to have a special genetic predisposition to develop type 2 diabetes, which is further amplified by a rise in obesity rates, a high rate of consanguinity and the presence of other variables of the insulin resistance syndrome. We highlight the epidemiology, clinical and complications profiles of diabetes in Saudi people. Diabetes is well studied in Saudi Arabia; however, there seems to be little research in the area of education and health care delivery. This is of paramount importance to offset the perceived impact on health care delivery services, to lessen chronic diabetes complications, and to reduce the expected morbidity and mortality from diabetes.

Citing Articles

Association Between HbA1c Levels and the Severity of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Alswaina N Cureus. 2025; 16(12):e76395.

PMID: 39867069 PMC: 11762433. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.76395.

Hypoglycemia and hospital mortality in critically ill patients.

Yeh H, Chao W, Wu C, Chan M Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):2642.

PMID: 39838165 PMC: 11751111. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87163-9.

Prevalence and Determinants of Diabetes in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Alhur A, Alhur A, Alhasan B, Alshahrani S, Almalki H, Alzahrani N Niger Med J. 2024; 65(5):569-580.

PMID: 39633697 PMC: 11612328. DOI: 10.60787/nmj.v65i3.543.

Adherence to Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose and Its Related Factors Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients Attending Al-Ahsa Primary Health Care Centers in Saudi Arabia.

AlRasheed A, Hashim H, Alrofaie H Cureus. 2024; 16(7):e65545.

PMID: 39188431 PMC: 11346824. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.65545.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice on Diabetic Retinopathy among Final-Year Medical Students in Riyadh.

Alhazimi A J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2024; 16(Suppl 1):S383-S388.

PMID: 38595487 PMC: 11001128. DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_604_23.

References

Elhadd T, Al-Amoudi A . Recommendations for management of diabetes during Ramadan. Diabetes Care. 2006; 29(3):744-5. DOI: 10.2337/diacare.29.03.06.dc05-2102. View

Salman H, Abanamy A, Ghassan B, Khalil M . Childhood diabetes in Saudi Arabia. Diabet Med. 1991; 8(2):176-8. DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1991.tb01567.x. View

Cook G . Rapid glucose absorption in Arabs in Saudi Arbia compared with that in Africans in Zambia. Br Med J. 1976; 1(6011):688-9. PMC: 1639102. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.1.6011.688. View

Sobande A, Al-Bar H, Archibong E . Diabetes and perinatal loss. A continuing problem. Saudi Med J. 2001; 21(2):161-3. View

Awada A, Al Rajeh S . The Saudi Stroke Data Bank. Analysis of the first 1000 cases. Acta Neurol Scand. 1999; 100(4):265-9. View

. High prevalence of metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases among Saudi population, aged 30-64 years. Int J Cardiol. 1998; 62(3):227-35. DOI: 10.1016/s0167-5273(97)00268-4. View

Laajam M . Ramadan fasting and non-insulin-dependent diabetes: effect on metabolic control. East Afr Med J. 1990; 67(10):732-6. View

Abbott C, Garrow A, Carrington A, Morris J, Van Ross E, Boulton A . Foot ulcer risk is lower in South-Asian and african-Caribbean compared with European diabetic patients in the U.K.: the North-West diabetes foot care study. Diabetes Care. 2005; 28(8):1869-75. DOI: 10.2337/diacare.28.8.1869. View

Sulimani R, Famuyiwa F, Laajam M . Diabetes mellitus and Ramadan fasting: the need for a critical appraisal. Diabet Med. 1988; 5(6):589-91. DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1988.tb01057.x. View

10.

Wild S, Roglic G, Green A, Sicree R, King H . Global prevalence of diabetes: estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care. 2004; 27(5):1047-53. DOI: 10.2337/diacare.27.5.1047. View

11.

El-Hazmi M, Warsy A, Al-Swailem A, Al-Swailem A, Sulaimani R, Al-Meshari A . Diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in Saudi Arabia. Ann Saudi Med. 1996; 16(4):381-5. DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.1996.381. View

12.

Jondeby M, Al-Ghamdi A, Al-Hawas F, Mousa D, Al-Sulaiman M, Al-Khader A . Caring for hemodialysis patients in Saudi Arabia. Past, present and future. Saudi Med J. 2001; 22(3):199-204. View

13.

Qari F, Akbar D . Diabetic foot: presentation and treatment. Saudi Med J. 2001; 21(5):443-6. View

14.

Osman A, Al-Nozha M . Risk factors of coronary artery disease in different regions of Saudi Arabia. East Mediterr Health J. 2001; 6(2-3):465-74. View

15.

Shohaib S, Scrimgeour E, Shaerya F . Tuberculosis in active dialysis patients in Jeddah. Am J Nephrol. 1999; 19(1):34-7. DOI: 10.1159/000013422. View

16.

El Mallah K, Narchi H, Kulaylat N, Shaban M . Gestational and pre-gestational diabetes: comparison of maternal and fetal characteristics and outcome. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1997; 58(2):203-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0020-7292(97)00084-2. View

17.

Hussein M, Mooij J, Roujouleh H, El-Sayed H . Observations in a Saudi-Arabian dialysis population over a 13-year period. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 1994; 9(8):1072-6. DOI: 10.1093/ndt/9.8.1072. View

18.

Bukhary Z, Alrajhi A . Extrapulmonary tuberculosis, clinical presentation and outcome. Saudi Med J. 2004; 25(7):881-5. View

19.

Qidwai S, Khan M, Hussain S, Malik M . Diabetic neuroarthropathy. Saudi Med J. 2001; 22(2):142-5. View

20.

Niazi G . Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and diabetes mellitus. Int J Hematol. 1991; 54(4):295-8. View