Saudi Health Promotion and Prevention Guideline for Diabetes Mellitus

Key Points from the New PHA Recommendations

1. Benefits of Early Detection

The guideline emphasizes that early detection in high-risk populations enables proactive strategies that may prevent or delay the onset of T1DM, and significantly reduces the likelihood of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at presentation.

Early detection in high-risk populations allows for proactive trials aiming to prevent or delay the onset of T1DM and to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis at presentation [76,77].

2. A Structured Framework for Prevention

The PHA outlines a 3-level prevention strategy for T1DM, aligned with international consensus:

Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) is a heterogeneous disease and progresses over different stages. Prevention of T1DM is an evolving field encompassing primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies. 

Primary Prevention: Efforts toward primary prevention aim to intervene before the onset of T1DM in individuals at risk. Genetic screening and identification of high-risk groups, such as first-degree relatives of individuals with T1DM, serve as key components. While current clinical guidelines recommend screening for at-risk individuals, achieving global universal screening remains a long-term goal [81]. 

Secondary Prevention: Secondary prevention focuses on delaying or preventing the progression of preclinical stages to overt diabetes. The identification of stages in T1DM progression, as outlined in recent International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Clinical Practice Consensus Guidelines, provides a valuable framework for intervention [82]. Understanding the heterogeneity and endotypes in T1DM further refines secondary prevention approaches, allowing for targeted strategies [83].

Tertiary Prevention: […] the progress in preventing T1DM is complex, involving genetic screening, comprehension of disease progression stages, and the exploration of innovative interventions. Considering that 85% of T1DM patients lack a family history of the condition, the global focus on universal screening and continuous research initiatives is shaping the dynamic field of T1DM prevention.

Click the below button to see all information about Saudi Health Promotion and Prevention Guideline for Diabetes Mellitus