An Analysis of Health Policies Designed to Control and Prevent Diabetes in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

<p>A trend analysis of the prevalence of diabetes in Saudi Arabia revealed a steep increase in diagnosis rates for the disease between the years 1989 and 2009. Between these years, the percentage of the population suffering from diabetes rose from 10.6% to 32.1% of the adult population, and the diagnosis rate is likely to increase in the future. The controlling and prevention of diabetes in the future, therefore, would potentially benefit from a scholarly review of current policies and programmes designed to contain the disease. The current study examines such policies and programmes, specifically those existing in Saudi Arabia and which are currently in operation in 2016. It employs the thematic-content-analysis technique to review key literature, and also uses Walt and Gibson’s policy triangle framework to facilitate the analysis. Searches of PubMed and Medline databases were conducted to locate sources and sources were manually screened by the authors before inclusion in the study. The study concludes that prime obstacles to the successful implementation of diabetes programmes are: insufficient training of practitioners for the treatment of diabetes; lack of remuneration for the work of diabetes educators and no existing evaluation of their outputs; and a lack of training and appropriate modes of qualifying professionally for diabetes educators. The authors recommend that the Saudi government award a greater proportion of resources to programmes designed to treat diabetes sufferers, as well as educational programmes related to disease for the wider public.</p>

Study of Diabetes Mellitus Management Policies Using a Systems Approach in Surge Capacity

“…In addition, education with a cultural approach has been proven to increase knowledge, attitudes, and skills in controlling blood sugar levels in West Java, Indonesia. The same condition shows that a cultural approach is very important in the Saudi Arabian environment for improving DM treatment behavior (Alharbi et al, 2016;Badriah et al, 2021).…”

A systematic review of factors associated with uncontrolled diabetes and meta‐analysis of its prevalence in Saudi Arabia since 2006

“…Studies were excluded if any of the following criteria were met: (1) the study focused on a type of diabetes other than T2DM (e.g., type 1 or gestational diabetes); (2) there was a specific study population, such as admitted patients or patients who had specific comorbidity; (3) the study reported only genetic, biochemical (e.g., vitamins, medication and serum), and environmental pollution (e.g., chemical and radiation) risk factors; (4) the study also excluded other types of publications, including intervention (e.g., RCT), qualitative, review, pilot studies, letters, commentaries, abstract, dissertations, and editorials; or (5) the study was published before 2006. The reason for restricting the data search to 2006 and after was to address the issue of poor glycaemic control after the country's undertook its first national strategy to prevent chronic disease in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2006 17 . Cross‐sectional studies that followed the ADA standards of inadequate glycaemic control, that showed HbA 1c ≥7% (53 mmol/mol) for non‐pregnant adults, or that partially followed ADA standards, but failed to report that pregnant women, were included in the quantitative data synthesis of prevalence (meta‐analysis) 11 .…”

Current gaps in management and timely referral of cardiorenal complications among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Middle East and African countries: Expert recommendations

“…In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Health established specialized centers for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with T2DM through a network of integrated facilities. Other initiatives like the National Awareness Program for Diabetes 2013, the Antidiabetes Education National Program, and the National Executive Plan of Diabetes Control (2010‐2020) are crucial for primary and secondary prevention 175,176 . Countries like Oman and the UAE have initiated screening programs that can be instrumental for the early detection of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) 177 .…”

“…Other initiatives like the National Awareness Program for Diabetes 2013, the Antidiabetes Education National Program, and the National Executive Plan of Diabetes Control (2010‐2020) are crucial for primary and secondary prevention. 175 , 176 Countries like Oman and the UAE have initiated screening programs that can be instrumental for the early detection of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). 177 On the same lines, the Egypt National Multisectoral Action Plan for Noncommunicable Diseases 2017‐2021 was formed with emphasis on the following strategic areas: governance, risk reduction, health promotion, early detection and management, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation, and research.…”