RIYADH: A recent study conducted by the International Diabetes Federation indicates that approximately 2.3 million adults in Saudi Arabia are living with undiagnosed diabetes — accounting for 44 percent of the 5.3 million adults in the Kingdom affected by the disease.
With a prevalence rate of 23.1 percent among adults, Saudi Arabia ranks among the top 10 countries globally for diabetes prevalence.
A survey of 351 adults in the Kingdom — part of a broader study spanning six countries — revealed a clear “optimism bias.”
Although 82 percent of participants acknowledged that screening for diabetes risk is worthwhile even when feeling healthy, only 18 percent believed they were personally at risk for Type 2 diabetes — despite the fact that every participant reported having at least two known risk factors.
Furthermore, seven out of 10 participants mistakenly believed that individuals in the prediabetic stage typically exhibit noticeable symptoms.
“Fear of what the results might show” (32 percent) emerged as the primary barrier to screening, followed by “lack of time” (24 percent) and “not believing there is a risk of developing the disease” (23 percent).
Nearly half of the participants (46 percent) said they did not feel confident enough to get screened for diabetes risk.
Abdulaziz Al-Humaidi, chairman of the board of the Saudi Charitable Diabetes Association, told Arab News: “Early…
